OIC calls for 'strict adherence' to IWT
The Punjab government is likely to ask the federal government to raise at all possible forums India's alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 in building dams and hydropower plants on Pakistani rivers.
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The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC-CFM) on Sunday condemned Israeli aggression against Iran and expressed solidarity with Pakistan in the wake of "unjustified strikes" carried out by India last month.
The 'Istanbul Declaration' issued at the end of the two-day meeting in the Turkish city, emphasised that the ceasefire between Pakistan and India announced on May 10, 2025, must be "faithfully adhered to", in the interest of regional peace and stability.
The foreign ministers from the Muslim states met in Istanbul for the 51st session of the CFM and adopted the 'Istanbul Declaration'. The two-day session on Saturday and Sunday was held under the theme of 'The OIC in a Transforming World'.
The CFM called for strict adherence to bilateral agreements between Pakistan and India, including the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT); and stressed the importance of a broad-based dialogue for peaceful settlement of all outstanding disputes.
"Express our deep concern over the recent military escalation in the South Asia region, including the unjustified strikes carried out on multiple locations in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and stress the need to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that would destabilise the region," it said.
The CFM expressed full support for the inalienable right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people in accordance with the UN Security Council and OIC resolutions, and the wishes of the Kashmiri people; and condemned massive human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Israeli aggression
The Istanbul Declaration condemned the Israel aggression against Iran and stressed "the urgent need to stop Israeli attacks". It expressed great concern over this dangerous escalation and a threatening human, economic and environmental situation in the region.
The CFM condemned the ongoing Israeli campaign of genocide against the Gaza Strip as well as the systematic campaigns of destruction and killing in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, aimed at eliminating the Palestinian cause, including the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
It reaffirmed the importance of achieving a permanent and sustainable ceasefire and of implementing the UNSC resolution aimed at ending the Israeli aggression, rebuilding of the Gaza Strip, and ensuring the provision of political and financial support to the Palestinian government.
The meeting called for and early convening of the United Nations High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and relevant United Nations resolutions, under the co-chairmanship of the Saudi Arabia and France.
"Condemn the actions of Israel, the occupying Power, in using starvation as a method of genocide by obstructing the entry of humanitarian assistance and preventing United Nations humanitarian agencies from carrying out their mandates, with the aim of forcibly displacing the Palestinian population," it said.
"In this regard, we call for the rejection of all forms of forced displacement of the Palestinian people, the urgent opening of crossings and borders, the unimpeded and adequate delivery of humanitarian aid, and the provision of protection for the Palestinian civilian population," read the Istanbul Declaration.
The CFM called on the international community to take deterrent measures to stop Israel's destabilisation policies and its recent attacks on Iran, Syria, and Lebanon and make Israel accountable for its crimes.
Islamophobia, terrorism
The CFM urged the international community to take effective measures to combat extremism, hate speech, defamation of religions, negative stereotyping and the stigmatisation of people on the basis of religion, belief or ethnicity at the national and global level,
The declaration underlines that terrorism and extremism could not be associated with any religion, race, ethnicity or nationality and should be unequivocally condemned regardless of its forms and manifestations that continue threatening the global peace and security
The meeting welcomed the progress in the normalisation ties between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the efforts of the Syrian interim government for the integration of Syria into the regional and international system. it supported the aspirations of the Muslim Turkish Cypriots to secure their inherent rights.
The OIC foreign ministers appreciated the commendable efforts by Algeria, Somalia and Pakistan to promote Islamic causes in the context of their non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council, the declaration stated.
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