Sushma Swaraj to address plenary session of OIC in UAE today, likely to raise terror issue

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj who shall be addressing the plenary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in UAE capital city is expected to raise the issue of terror at the meeting.

Sushma Swaraj (Source: PTI)

Abu Dhabi: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj who shall be addressing the plenary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in UAE's capital city Abu Dhabi is expected to raise the issue of terror at the multi-nation conclave. Sushma shall be the first Indian foreign minister from India to attend the conclave which largely comprises of Arab nations from the Persian Gulf and West Asia. Swaraj will address the inaugural plenary session of the meeting in Abu Dhabi on March 1 as a guest of honour, and officials have described the invitation to India as a key foreign policy success in efforts to strengthen relations with Arab and Muslim-majority countries. "Recognising India's engagement with the Islamic world. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in #AbuDhabi for the Ministerial Meeting of @OIC_OCI. India has been invited by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of UAE as the 'Guest of Honour" External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Islamabad has conveyed its concerns over India's participation in the OIC meet in the wake of the Indian Air Force strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp at Balakot on Tuesday. Acting upon pressure largely exerted from Pakistan, OIC had condemned the air strike as an “incursion and aerial violation” and urged both countries to seek peaceful solutions to the crisis through dialogue. The Indian side, however, is undettered by this criticism because of the diplomatic win sought by India, securing an invitation from the OIC in the face of opposition from Pakistan, a founding member of the 56-member grouping. “There is expected to be a reference to terror by the external affairs minister at OIC,” said a person familiar with developments who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We will attend. Don’t attach much importance to a statement put out by the (OIC) secretariat at the behest of Pakistan to deter us from attending,” the person added.