ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will lead Pakistan’s delegation to the 47th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) being held in Niamey, Niger, on November 27 and 28, the Pakistani foreign office said on Wednesday.

Representatives of 57 OIC member states and five observers are expected to attend the meeting.

During the two-day session, the Council of Foreign Ministers will discuss a wide range of issues confronting the Muslim world with particular focus on “combating Islamophobia and defamation of the religions, Palestine, Jammu &Kashmir dispute, situation of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC states ... and various matters related to promotion of civilizational, cultural and religious dialogue.”

The council will also hold a brainstorming session on “Security and Humanitarian Challenges Confronting African Sahel States Members of the OIC,” the FO statement said.

During the visit, the Pakistani foreign minister will highlight rights violations in the disputed Kashmir region administered by India, and New Delhi’s decision last year to revoke the social autonomy of the region. Qureshi will also highlight rising incidents of “Islamophobia and hate speech against Muslims” and emphasize the need for unity in the Islamic world to combat these problems.