The controversial decision, whether taken by the OIC Secretariat or the host country, not only attracted unfavourable reaction but brings into question the role and mandate of OIC besides highlighting some contradictions in its policies. What could be more annoying for Islamabad is the timing of the OIC gesture which comes at a time when both Pakistan and India are engaged in an armed conflict, if not a fully-fledged war. Earlier, Senate Chairman Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani sent separate letters to speakers and presiding officers of the parliaments of the OIC member states asking them to play a role in keeping India out of the OIC meeting. It is not known who manipulated this OIC gesture; it, however, came coinciding with the Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to Pakistan and India and a few days after the Pulwama killings on February 14, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Besides, the OIC gesture seemed to be in clear contradiction with its earlier and repeated instance on the Kashmir issue.

Source: The Express Tribune March 01, 2019 06:22 UTC