Ambassador Yousef Al Dobeay, the Special Envoy of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General for Jammu and Kashmir, reiterated the OIC’s unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. On Wednesday, Ambassador Al Dobeay called upon India to swiftly reverse the controversial actions it undertook in Occupied Kashmir on August 5, 2019, setting the stage for an impassioned plea for the restoration of fundamental rights in the region.
During a joint press conference in Islamabad with Foreign Secretary Mohammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, Ambassador Al Dobeay expressed his concerns about the current Indian administration’s persistence in maintaining its occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that the Indian authorities have been actively suppressing the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, particularly their inalienable right to self-determination, a right enshrined in United Nations and OIC resolutions.
The OIC and its member countries firmly believe that “all the illegal steps taken by the Indian government in 2019 should be revised,” Ambassador Al Dobeay emphasized. He pointed out that the 57-member coalition of Islamic nations is fully committed to the Kashmir cause and had, in fact, dispatched a fact-finding mission to Kashmir last year to gain firsthand insights into the situation on the ground.
The Ambassador’s visit to Pakistan marks his fourth, underscoring the OIC’s continuous and resolute support for the Kashmir issue. During his stay, he is scheduled to hold discussions with the leadership of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He will also journey to the Line of Control (LoC), where he will receive a comprehensive briefing on the prevailing situation in the region. Additionally, Ambassador Al Dobeay is set to engage with Kashmiri representatives to better understand their plight and concerns.
Despite the visit coinciding with ongoing unrest in Gaza, the envoy and the foreign secretary refrained from discussing the situation in the Middle East and did not entertain questions on the matter. The Foreign Office clarified that the visiting dignitary, Ambassador Al Dobeay, holds the designated role of Special Envoy for Kashmir, and his mandate does not encompass matters related to Palestine.
Ambassador Yousef Al Dobeay’s impassioned plea for India to reverse its actions in Kashmir and the OIC’s resolute support for the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people signifies a critical development in the ongoing Kashmir issue. The OIC’s commitment to the cause, as demonstrated by their fact-finding mission and Ambassador Al Dobeay’s recurring visits to Pakistan, reflects the organization’s dedication to addressing the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people. This visit serves as a testament to the OIC’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people and their quest for justice and self-determination.