New York, Sept 24, 2025 — The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir has declared that recent developments following the Pahalgam attack underline a stark reality: without resolving the Kashmir dispute, durable peace in South Asia will remain out of reach.

The statement came during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, the session was chaired by OIC Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Yousef M. Al-Dobeay and attended by member states of the Contact Group — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Niger, and Azerbaijan.

A delegation of Kashmiri representatives also participated, ensuring that the voices of those directly impacted by the decades-long conflict were heard.

Condemnation of Indian Policies

Pakistan’s Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi, addressed the gathering with strong words against India’s actions in the occupied territory. He condemned efforts to consolidate “illegal occupation” through repressive laws, demographic engineering, and brutal crackdowns.

Fatemi emphasized that sustainable peace and stability in South Asia depend squarely on resolving the Kashmir conflict. He urged the OIC to intensify pressure on New Delhi to end its repression, release political prisoners, and roll back measures designed to alter the region’s demographic composition.

Human Rights at the Core

The meeting placed significant focus on the worsening human rights crisis in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The OIC members voiced alarm over:

• The mass arrests of over 2,800 individuals, including political workers and human rights defenders.
• The demolition of civilian homes and the harassment of families.
• The continued imprisonment of senior Kashmiri leader Shabir Shah, despite his worsening health condition.
• The restrictions on religious gatherings at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid and Eidgah grounds, violating fundamental freedoms.

The Contact Group reiterated its rejection of India’s August 5, 2019 actions, which revoked Kashmir’s special status and triggered sweeping demographic changes. It declared that Indian-run elections in the occupied territory cannot substitute the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.

Regional Peace at Stake

The OIC expressed deep concern over Indian attacks inside Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, warning that such aggression threatened regional stability. It also criticized “irresponsible statements” by Indian leaders, saying such rhetoric inflames tensions rather than paving the way for dialogue.

The group welcomed the latest ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control and praised ongoing mediation efforts, but stressed that these steps remain fragile without addressing the root cause of the conflict.

“The events following the Pahalgam attack make it abundantly clear — peace in South Asia is impossible without justice in Kashmir,” the group stated.

A Unified Stand

In closing, the OIC Contact Group reaffirmed the organization’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, as enshrined in U.N. resolutions. It welcomed the visit of the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Pakistan and Azad Kashmir as a step toward greater international engagement.

The group’s stance was unambiguous: the Kashmir issue is not an internal matter of India but a longstanding international dispute. Until it is resolved in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, regional peace will remain elusive.