‘At behest of Pakistan’: MEA rejects OIC statement on Pahalgam attack, slams its interference in internal matters | India News

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs has rejected the statement by Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Group in New York on Pahalgam attack calling it “absurd and misguided”. It slammed the organisation for issuing the statement at “Pakistan’s behest” and termed it an interference in India’s internal matters.“The OIC statement, issued at the behest of Pakistan, is absurd in refusing to recognise the facts of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and its cross-border linkages. This is yet another attempt by Pakistan, a country that has long engaged in cross-border terrorism, to manipulate and misguide the OIC Group to issue a self-serving statement. We reject the OIC’s interference on matters that are internal to India,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement on Tuesday.The OIC had voiced deep concern over the worsening security situation in South Asia and had termed India’s allegations against Pakistan “unfounded” following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26.“The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Group in New York expresses its deep concern over the deteriorating security environment in South Asia, exacerbated by India’s unfounded allegations against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which are inflaming tensions in an already volatile region,” it had said.However, it had also reaffirmed its firm stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, condemning efforts to link terrorism to any country, race, religion, culture, or nationality. “The OIC Group reiterates its principled position against, and condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomsoever and wherever, and reaffirms its unequivocal rejection of all attempts to associate any country, race, religion, culture or nationality with terrorism,” it said.The relations between India and Pakistan have hit a rock bottom since the attack with the latter consistently violating the ceasefire. Pakistan on Monday night defied the ceasefire for the 12th consecutive time drawing proportionate response from Indian Army.