Pakistan to boycott OIC meeting over Sushma Swaraj's participation

Pakistan will not attend OIC session due to the organisation's failure to rescind the invitation to Indian FM Swaraj.

Earlier, Qureshi told Pakistan media "I have no reservations with the OIC or any other Islamic country. My reservations are with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's attendance at the OIC meeting,". (Photo by GEORGES GOBET / AFP)

Islamabad: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday said that Pakistan will boycott the meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which is scheduled to start from today in the UAE as a matter of principle for having extended invitation as a Guest of Honour to India’s Sushma Swaraj. Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced in a joint session of Parliament that Pakistan will not attend OIC session due to the organisation's failure to rescind the invitation to Indian FM Swaraj. Swaraj has been invited as a "guest of honour" at the inaugural session of the foreign ministers' conclave in Abu Dhabi on March 1-2. Earlier, Qureshi told  Pakistan media "I have no reservations with the OIC or any other Islamic country. My reservations are with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's attendance at the OIC meeting,". "If Swaraj attends the meeting then I will not participate in it," Qureshi added. Qureshi had also spoken to his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his reservations over the invitation to Swaraj. He had said "Under the current circumstances, it will not be possible for me to attend OIC meeting where Swaraj is present," Meanwhile, the OIC on Tuesday had "condemned" India's "incursion and aerial violation" in Pakistan. It had urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid any steps that would endanger peace and security in the region. It called upon both parties to act responsibly and encouraged them to seek peaceful solution to current crisis without resort to use of force. It also called on them to embrace dialogue and work towards de-escalation of current situation as a matter of priority. The OIC is an international organization founded in 1969, consisting of 57 member states, with 40 countries being Muslim Majority countries.