NEW DELHI: Contradictory reports have emerged regarding the venue of the proposed Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) Ministerial meet on Kashmir. Pakistan state-run media said on Sunday that Islamabad may host the meeting in April, although earlier reports said Saudi Arabia, which holds the Presidency of the OIC currently, would play host following an assurance by its foreign minister during a visit to the Pakistani capital last week.Radio Pakistan, quoting the Kashmir Media Service, said on Sunday that the OIC had decided to convene a meeting on “the grim human rights situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the enactment of the anti-Muslim law in India.”The role of Jeddah-based OIC Contact Group on Kashmir in the proposed meet is as yet unclear, people familiar with the OIC indicated. Over the last few years, a number of OIC members have opposed strongly worded statements on Kashmir.Earlier this year, much to Pakistan’s discomfort, India was invited by the UAE to the OIC Foreign Ministers meet on Kashmir, viewed as a diplomatic victory for the Narendra Modi government. UAE’s ties with India have been elevated to a new level in the backdrop of a strong chemistry between Modi and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.Similarly, Indo-Saudi ties touched new heights in 2019 after visits by its Crown Prince and Modi to each other's capital, which opened new areas of partnership in defence, energy and infrastructure. Riyadh has also announced a $100 billion investment plan in India.On the other hand, Riyadh is believed to have ostensibly urged Pakistan to pull out of the Kuala Lumpur (KL) Summit, upset over efforts by Malaysia and Turkey to organise the Summit as part of their strategies to emerge as leaders of the Islamic World.Saudi Arabia, seen for decades as the undisputed leader of Islamic nations, did not want to play second fiddle and a message was delivered to the Malaysian PM ahead of the summit, it is believed.

Source: Economic Times December 29, 2019 21:33 UTC