Page 9 - 15MAR2019E

foreign affairs

ndia has been invited IndIa InvIted to oIC mir issue.
for the first time to Pakistan Foreign Minis-
the Organisation of ter Shah Mehmood Qureshi
Islamic Cooperation meet for fIrst tIme had threatened the OIC that
I as “Guest of Honour”. he won’t attend the meet
The official spokesperson after the latter extended an
of the Ministry of External The UAE visit of Sushma Swaraj has come invitation to Sushma Swaraj
Affairs, Raveesh Kumar con- at a time when tensions between Indian to be the guest of honour.
firmed through a tweet that and Pakistan are on an all-time high, The invitation was opposed
External Affairs Minister, by Pakistan who threat-
Sushma Swaraj will attend reports Tehelka Bureau ened to boycott the meet
the 46th Session of the over the Indian minister’s
Council of Foreign Ministers participation.
of Organisation of Islamic Pakistan’s Foreign Minis-
Cooperation. ter Shah Mehmood Qureshi
The UAE visit of Sushma has reportedly said, “I have
Swaraj has come at a time spoken to the United Arab
when tensions between In- Emirates foreign minister
dian and Pakistan are on an and have expressed my
all-time high as one Indian reservations over her invita-
Air Force pilot remains in tion. I have made myself
the custody of Pakistan. This
is the first time India has The invitation
been invited as the guest of
honour at an OIC meeting. was opposed
The OIC is an international by Pakistan
organisation founded in
1969 and works towards Foreign Minister
protecting and safeguard- Shah Mehmood
ing the rights of the Muslim
world. It is an organization Qureshi, who
of Muslim majority nations. desire of the enlightened ties and forging a multifac-
The invitation for the leadership of the UAE to go eted partnership at the in- threatened to
event was extended by HH beyond our rapidly growing ternational level. In fact the boycott the meet
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed close bilateral ties and forge Ministry of External Affairs
Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister a true multifaceted partner- has thanked UAE leadership over India’s
of the UAE, and accepted ship at the multilateral and for the invitation. participation
by Sushma Swaraj. Sushma international level.” Last year, Bangladesh
Swaraj is expected to ad- It added, “We see this proposed the restructuring
dress the inaugural plenary invitation as a milestone of the charter of the OIC to clear that India has shown
in Abu Dhabi. The Islamic in our comprehensive pave way for the inclusion of aggression. Under the cur-
meet is to be held on March strategic partnership with non-Muslim countries like rent circumstances, it will
1 and 2. the UAE. We also see this India as an “observer state” not be possible for me to
Extending the invitation, invitation as a welcome of the 50-year old groupin attend OIC meeting where
the UAE Foreign Ministry recognition of the presence India’s presence at OIC Sushma Swaraj is present. In
said the “friendly Republic of 185 million Muslims in is crucial, especially at fact earlier Pakistan was all
of India” had been invited India and of their contribu- a time when it has been set to attend the meet and
as the guest of honour for tion to its pluralistic ethos, pitching diplomatic efforts wanted to raise the issue
“all its international political and of India’s contribution against Pakistan to isolate of airstrikes by India into
weight and diverse cultural to the Islamic world.” The it internationally following its territory but changed its
heritage and an important invitation shows that the the Pulwama terror attack plans after UAE extended
Islamic component.” UAE wants to go beyond in which 40 CRPF person- special invitation to Sushma
Responding to the parochial aims and recog- nel were killed. The OIC has Swaraj to bethe “guest of
invitation, Indian Ministry nizes close bilateral ties with usually been supportive of honour”.
of External Affairs had said, India. The invitation can Pakistan and, often sided
“We see this invitation as the lead to further improving with Islamabad on the Kash- letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 march 2019 9 www.Tehelka.com