NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia’s minister of foreign affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, took part in a meeting of the Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday that was organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Addressing the meeting, the prince said the Kingdom stands by Muslim peoples in their efforts to maintain their Islamic identity and preserve their dignity, and he reiterated his country’s support for people in areas affected by conflict or unrest, including those in Jammu and Kashmir region, the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said.

Prince Faisal described the Jammu and Kashmir issue as a pressing challenge to the security and stability of the region, and warned that if it is allowed to remain unresolved it will contribute to further instability.

The Kingdom is unremitting in its efforts to mediate between the parties involved in the conflict, in an attempt to deescalate it and help bring about a peaceful settlement in accordance with international resolutions, the foreign minister said. Such efforts are in line with Saudi Arabia’s unwavering stance in support of Islamic peoples, he added.

Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, the deputy minister for international multilateral affairs, and Abdulrahman Al-Dawood, director general of the Foreign Minister’s Office, also attended the meeting.