Published 21:29 IST, August 26th 2019
Imran Khan admits 'no Muslim nation with Pakistan' on Kashmir issue
Imran Khan's admission that no Muslim country has been backing Pakistan over Kashmir came a day after PM Modi was conferred with two awards in the Arab world.
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Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing the nation on the Kashmir issue admitted that no Muslim nation has backed Islamabad following the abrogation of Article 370.
A feeble Imran Khan during the address said, "I read in the newspapers that people are disappointed that Muslim countries are not siding with Kashmir. I want to tell you not to be disappointed; if some countries are not raising this issue because of their economic interests, they will eventually take this issue up. They will have to, with time."
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This statement comes a day after PM Modi was conferred with two awards by UAE and Bahrain on his 3-nation tour.
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PM Modi was awarded '
Muslim nations on Kashmir
Pakistan has been the only country to condemn New Delhi's abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent communication lockdown, military deployment and detainment of mainstream Opposition leaders.
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The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), a grouping consisting of 57 member states maintained its silence over the abrogation of Article 370, despite Pakistan appeal to show solidarity over Kashmir.
According to Pakistani Foreign Ministry, representatives from Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and other OIC member countries attended the meeting held on August 6, even then, no member-nation has come forward to back Islamabad against New Delhi.
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Despite Islamabad seeking to internationalise the Kashmir issue, a crucial Muslim nation, Saudi Arabia urged "restrain," but did not manifest any interest to mediate the issue. Whereas, the UAE explicitly called the issue an "internal" matter. Meanwhile, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman maintained had their lips zipped over the Kashmir issue.
Outlining his government's future strategy on Kashmir, Khan said: "First, I believe, the entire nation should stand with the Kashmiri nation. I have said this that I will act as Kashmir's ambassador".
Imran Khan claimed that PM Modi had made a "historic blunder" by revoking Kashmir's special autonomy.
"This is the UN's responsibility, they promised the people of Kashmir that they would protect them. Historically, the world bodies have always sided with the powerful but the UN should know that 1.25 billion Muslims are looking towards it," Imran Khan said.
Abrogation of Article 370
Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan. India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.
During PM Modi's bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France on Monday, PM Modi categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir conflict, saying the two countries can discuss and resolve all issues bilaterally and "we don't want to trouble any third country." Donald Trump said he and Modi spoke about Kashmir "at great length" on Sunday night and he feels that both India and Pakistan can resolve it on their own.
20:37 IST, August 26th 2019