United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has hinted that India may become part of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) one day.
“We can embrace India in the OIC,” the UAE foreign minister said while addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the Forty-Sixth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of Member States of the OIC held in Abu Dhabi.
The OIC sent a very “clear and positive” message to India, he added. “The OIC appreciates relationship with India and looks forward to strengthening ties with India”, Al Nahyan further said.
Al Nahyan further termed India’s participation in the forum of Muslim countries forum as a “historical moment not only for the OIC but India as well”. He also lauded the speech of Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj at the plenary session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers.
When asked about the resolution passed on Kashmir in the moot, Al Nahyan defended the resolution adopted by the OIC member states. According to the resolution, the OIC member states reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remained the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution was indispensable for the dream of peace in South Asia.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi did not attend the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in protest against the OIC’s decision to invite Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj as a “guest of honour”.
