New Delhi Says OIC Has No Locus Standi on Matters It Considers Internal; Calls for Pakistan to Address Terrorism-Related Concerns
New Delhi, September 23, 2026 (SDNA): India has strongly rejected references made to the country in a joint communiqué issued by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, describing the remarks as unwarranted and factually incorrect.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that the OIC has no locus standi to comment on matters that India considers strictly internal. The response came after the OIC Contact Group discussed Jammu and Kashmir on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
India Rejects OIC’s Intervention
According to the Indian government, repeated references to Jammu and Kashmir by the OIC do not alter New Delhi’s position on the territory. India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of the country and rejects what it describes as politically motivated narratives surrounding the issue.
The Ministry of External Affairs also questioned the credibility of the OIC, arguing that repeatedly endorsing what India considers an inaccurate and politically motivated narrative raises serious questions about the organisation’s approach.
OIC Reiterates Its Position
The OIC, meanwhile, has publicly maintained its longstanding position on Jammu and Kashmir. In its September 21 meeting in New York, the OIC Ministerial Contact Group reaffirmed support for what it described as the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. The organisation linked its position to UN Security Council resolutions and principles of international law.
The OIC Secretary-General also raised concerns regarding the humanitarian, human-rights and security situation in the region and called for increased international attention to the Kashmir issue.
India Raises Pakistan’s Terrorism Record
In its response, India also directed criticism toward Pakistan, arguing that the OIC should not provide a platform for what New Delhi described as Pakistan’s “motivated propaganda.”
India referred to what it called Pakistan’s documented record of supporting and sponsoring terrorism and said that Islamabad should instead undertake introspection and address the continuing threat of terrorism emanating from territories under its control.
A Continuing Diplomatic Dispute
The latest exchange highlights the continuing difference between India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir and that of the OIC. While India regards the matter as an internal issue and rejects external intervention, the OIC continues to describe Kashmir as an issue requiring international attention and has reaffirmed its position on self-determination.
The issue has once again surfaced during the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York, bringing the contrasting positions of India and the OIC into focus on the international diplomatic stage.