At the recent Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Parliamentary Union meeting in Jakarta, Pakistan suffered a significant diplomatic setback when its attempt to include strong anti-India language on the Kashmir issue was blocked. Key OIC member states, Indonesia, Egypt, and Bahrain, opposed Pakistan’s proposal, preventing it from being included in the final outcome document.
Indonesia, the host nation, played a crucial role in rejecting Pakistan’s move. Long known for supporting principles of territorial integrity, Indonesia signalled that it did not want the OIC platform to be used for targeting individual member states. Egypt and Bahrain supported this stance, reflecting their growing diplomatic and strategic ties with India.
The final declaration at the Jakarta meeting strongly condemned the situation in Palestine and Gaza, but notably toned down any reference to India. Despite this, Pakistan reportedly circulated a misleading document domestically, falsely claiming that its position had been endorsed. This suggests Islamabad’s need to demonstrate domestic success even when it fails diplomatically on international platforms.
This development reflects a broader shift in the dynamics within the OIC. Traditionally, Pakistan has relied on the OIC to garner support for its position on Kashmir. However, recent years have shown a growing reluctance among key Islamic nations to allow their platforms to be used in this manner. Many are now prioritising bilateral relations, trade, and strategic cooperation with India over ideological alignment with Pakistan.
This is not the first time Pakistan has faced opposition within the OIC on the Kashmir issue. In 2019, India was invited as a “Guest of Honour” to an OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi despite Pakistan’s protests. That instance was widely seen as a diplomatic breakthrough for India, aided by the support of the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The Jakarta episode continues this trend, where leading Islamic countries are choosing a more neutral or pro-India stance. For India, this marks a diplomatic success, reflecting its consistent efforts to engage with the Islamic world on economic, cultural, and strategic fronts. It also underscores the waning influence of Pakistan in shaping international opinion on Kashmir through multilateral Islamic forums.
In conclusion, the blocking of Pakistan’s proposal at the OIC Parliamentary Union meeting is a clear diplomatic setback for Islamabad and a notable gain for New Delhi, highlighting the changing geopolitical alignments within the Muslim world.
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