JEDDAH (DNA) – An emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir has been called today (Tuesday) in Jeddah – as the Indian government yesterday rushed through a presidential decree to abolish Articles 370 and 35A of its constitution to scrap special status granted to Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK).

According to Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal, the meeting would discuss the recent illegal developments by India in IOK.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will lead Pakistani delegation, and representatives from Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and other member countries will also attend the meeting.

Earlier, the OIC had expressed deep concerns about the deteriorating situation in IOK, including reports of deployment of additional paramilitary forces and use of banned cluster munition by the Indian forces to target civilians.

The OIC had reiterated its stance while urging the international community to play a responsible role for the peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.