ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a 57-country grouping of Muslim nations, on Tuesday condemned India’s violation of Pakistan’s airspace and urged both countries to exercise restraint and resolve outstanding issues through talks.
India said its air force jets had hit a militant training camp inside Pakistan on Tuesday and killed a larger number of fighters. Pakistan admitted India had violated its airspace but denied there were casualties or a militant camp was targeted.
“The OIC condemned the Indian incursion and aerial violation and dropping of four bombs today,” the organisation said in a statement. “It urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid any steps that would endanger peace and security in the region.”
The OIC “Contact Group on Kashmir” also held an emergency meeting in Jeddah, requested by Pakistan following escalating tensions with India.
The OIC has invited India, to the inaugural plenary of its foreign ministers' conclave scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi on March 1-2. The OCI’s statement did not mention if India was still invited to the forum.
Indian officials said the early morning raid had destroyed a training camp of Jaish-e- Mohammed, the militant group that claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 paramilitary policemen on February 14.
Pakistan’s government and army have promised an “appropriate response," raising the possibility of military escalation between the arch-rivals who have fought three wars since they gained independence from the British in 1947, two of them over Kashmir, which the neighbours both claim in full but rule in part.
The OIC called upon India and Pakistan “to act responsibly and encouraged them to seek peaceful solution to current crisis without resort to use of force.”
“It also called on them to embrace dialogue and work towards de-escalation of current situation as a matter of priority,” the OIC statement said.
