The Joint Press Conference Addressed by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and the Secretary General of the OIC, His Excellency Mr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz,6 December, 2001  

Foreign Minister’s Statement

His Excellency Abdelouahed Belkeziz, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, is here on his first long awaited visit since he assumed the charge of his important office. Yesterday, he and I had the opportunity to discuss issues of importance to the Organization, Palestine, Kashmir and the latest situation in Afghanistan. I am glad to inform you that he had an excellent meeting this morning with the President, General Pervaiz Musharraf. He also had discussions with the Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas and SAFRON (States & Frontier Regions), who, as you are well aware, is principally in charge of the humanitarian assistance for Afghan refugees.

During his call on the President, the Secretary General expressed appreciation for the role that Pakistan has played since September 11 in the fight against international terrorism. The Secretary General has said that the position taken by Pakistan was not only beneficial for Pakistan and Afghanistan, but indeed, for the entire membership of the OIC. He has joined us in expressing hopes and prayers that the agreement that was signed in Bonn yesterday (5 December), providing for the establishment of the interim Authority w.e.f 22nd of December, will open the way to the restoration of normalcy in Afghanistan, peace and security and provide an opportunity for the Afghan people to rebuild and reconstruct their country, so that they can, after a long two and a half decades, begin to lead a normal life to which all human beings are entitled.

He and I also expressed great concern over the latest escalation of violence by Israel in Palestine and the condemnable attack on the Headquarters of President Yasser Arafat. We have emphasized the need for the international community to put pressure on Israel to return to dialogue and respect the agreement with the Palestinian leadership. We agree that a lasting peace in the Middle East requires implementation of all the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the establishment of a Palestinian State, with Al-Quds as its capital.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference has always given resolute support to the just struggle of the people of Kashmir. They were promised the right of self-determination more than half a century ago in resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. That pledge needs to be redeemed and the people of the State given an opportunity to decide their own destiny. I would also like to draw attention to the decisions of the OIC, which are often not given due coverage in the international media, the coverage that they deserve.

In Qatar at the 9th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Foreign Ministers on 10 October this year, we collectively highlighted that terrorism was opposed to the tolerant divine message of Islam. We called for the promotion of dialogue and the building of bridges between the Islamic World and the other Civilizations. Recently, at the OIC Foreign Ministers annual meeting on 15 November, we re-affirmed our strong opposition to terrorism and called for the convening of an International Conference under the auspices of the United Nations to draw up an international plan to fight terrorism, in accordance with international law and full respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member States. We also rejected the targeting of any OIC member State under the pretext of fighting terrorism.

Finally, I am confident that the OIC will continue to play its leading role in guiding the interests and destiny of the Islamic countries. In this context, the visit of the OIC Secretary General has, indeed, been fruitful and of immense significance. We look forward to our continuing cooperation and support to the Organization and to its distinguished Secretary General, who is guiding the work of the Organization.  

Statement by the OIC Secretary General

I would like to express my happiness for being in Islamabad, capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is as an influential and very important member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. It is also a pioneer for the common Islamic action. This visit comes within the framework of my normal action of visiting the member States but this visit at this particular time is an occasion to exchange views with the leadership of Pakistan and also, to listen to their advice regarding how should we react to what is happening around the world, especially in these very important circumstances, especially after the September 11 incident and its repercussions on the world.

The attitude of the OIC since the beginning was very clear. Immediately after the events, we issued a statement to condemn the terrorist act that took place in the United States of America and which resulted in the killings of thousands of innocent people. This act, of course, contradicts with the tenets of Islam, which is a religion of tolerance. Islam also considers that killing one single human being is like killing of the whole humanity. Then came the meeting of the 10 October of the OIC extraordinary session, that took place in Doha. As you may all remember, this meeting condemned terrorism and declared cooperation of the Islamic world with the campaign against terrorism. And, of course, it also dwelt on other issues, like the need to stand by the legal and legitimate causes of the Islamic nations around the world.

I believe, that Pakistan behaved sagaciously regarding the fight against terrorism and I would like to congratulate its leadership, especially the President General Pervaiz Musharraf, for the wisdom and dexterity with which he dealt with this question under extremely delicate and difficult circumstances. The Organization of the Islamic Conference supports any agreement that will come up among the officials of Afghanistan, and also we support what has been agreed upon in Bonn. We think that this agreement comes within the framework of our Organization i.e. the unity of Afghanistan should be preserved, and that there should be a broad-based government in Afghanistan, embracing all the factions, tribes of the country, and multi-ethnic in order to reach a final solution, a solution which is according to the satisfaction of all the Afghan people. At this occasion, I would like to appeal to all the countries to come to the help of Afghanistan for its reconstruction and for the humanitarian assistance in order to help the displaced people and the refugees.

We in the OIC are working and doing our best in order to implement this agenda. We believe that fighting terrorism should be treated and tackled at the source. We believe that people who resort to violence, in many cases do so their just political aspirations are not adhered to. We believe that the people who are struggling for their independence have legitimate rights. That has been agreed upon by the international law and Security Council of the United Nations and, therefore, should be helped to achieve their goal, so they desist from using violence to reach what they are seeking for.

Regarding the question of Palestine, I would like to say that the OIC is seized with this problem for a long time. Now, I would like to inform you that contacts have been established to hold an extraordinary meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers in Doha, next Monday. We are in the process of organizing this meeting, which will enable the Islamic Ummah to discuss what is going on in Palestine and take necessary measures. I thank you very much, and I am ready for the questions.  

Question-Answer Session

The following issues were discussed during the question-answer session:  

Q. When asked to spell out the proposed goals of the Secretary General’s visit to Pakistan and the measures the Organizations of the Islamic Conference intends to take in its meeting at Doha to exert pressure on Israel, the Foreign Minister said:

A. The Secretary General has been very kind to respond to our invitation to visit Pakistan. One of the functions of the Secretary General is to apprise himself fully of the views of the member States, especially on critical issues currently under the focus. This was the purpose of his visit, and as I said in my opening remarks, we had a very fruitful exchange of views on all the major issues.

Q. To a question if the OIC was planning to contribute to the multi-national force for Afghanistan and whether the Secretary General agreed that the OIC had failed to protect the hapless people of Afghanistan, the Secretary General OIC said:

A. Thank you for your question. Your question has two points. First, whether forces from Islamic countries will assist in the peace keeping efforts in Afghanistan, however, we are waiting for the return of calm to Afghanistan and for the process of re-building the country to start and then we will be able to take position on this issue. The question about the responsibility of the Islamic countries to participate in the peace keeping forces, I would like to say that if the Islamic countries were asked to do such a thing, I am sure, they will not hesitate to contribute.

The second question regarding why the Organization of Islamic Conference failed to defend the helpless people in Afghanistan, I would like to thank you because, it seems to me that you are giving to our Organization more importance than it really deserves, because as you know, we are a political organization, we have no military capabilities at all. We have taken a very clear political stance on this issue that the fight against terrorism should be directed against the terrorists and not the Afghan people. This we have emphasized before, and we have always maintained this position. I would also like to inform that a few days ago, I sent a message to Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan to initiate investigation into the massacre that has taken place next to Mazar-e-Sharif, in which many people or prisoners hailing from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Arab countries were killed. We hope that he will do this kind of investigation and inform us in due course. So I think, that if you would like to ask something from OIC, we can only do things within the framework of our responsibility, in cooperation and coordination with the member States.

I just want to add some clarifications. Firstly, the agreement that has been signed in Bonn yesterday, provides for a UN mandated security force to begin with for Kabul, and then later on, possibly for other major cities in Afghanistan. The United Nations will make a request to member States to provide contingents for that force and the OIC countries, if requested, will naturally respond positively. Secondly, the OIC on the 10th of October this year, established a fund for assistance to Afghanistan. Some money has already been contributed. An account has been opened and, Insha-Allah, with more contributions coming in, the OIC will play a part in assisting the people of Afghanistan in regard to humanitarian recovery and reconstruction programmes.

Q. Asked if he agreed that the OIC sought to evolve a pragmatic strategy to solve not only the Kashmir issue, but other issues facing the Muslims all over the world, and the Muslim countries should suspend economic ties with India until it was receptive to resolve the Kashmir issue, the Secretary General of the OIC said:

A. I would like to reiterate that the OIC is a political organization and its stand on the question of Jammu and Kashmir is very clear. I would like to state here once again that the Organization of the Islamic Conference fully supports the aspirations of the Kashmiri people for self-determination, in conformity with the resolutions of the United Nations. Our position on the Kashmir question is very clear and we will not be tired to reiterate and re-emphasize this stance at all fora and on all occasions. The Ministerial Conference of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic nations demanded of the Secretary General to appoint a Special Representative for Kashmir within the framework of the OIC, and this representative will be nominated very soon. We are following this matter with great concern and if anything that the Organization can do, in cooperation and consultation with member States and Pakistan, we would be more than willing to do it, especially if this concerns a political side. This question had been put to the United Nations half a century ago. We are following it very carefully and with great resolve because we believe, that if a question of this gravity was not resolved it might, God forbid, create another problem that the world is facing now. So, we would like to prevent such an eventuality and hope that this issue will be resolved amicably.

Q. To a question whether the Government of Pakistan was planning to round up the Afghan refugees and forcibly repatriate them to Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister said:

A. The Government of Pakistan has been hoping for nearly two decades that conditions will arise in Afghanistan for the Afghan refugees to return to their homes in safety and honour. We are very much encouraged by the developments yesterday. We hope the establishment of an interim Authority/Administration shall create conditions for peace. The world community at this time has pledged to providing assistance to Afghanistan for humanitarian recovery and reconstruction programmes. So we believe that as a result of these developments, the hope of the Afghan refugees to return to their homes is nearing realization.

We have not embarked upon any programme of forcible repatriation of the Afghans. We have been cooperating with the world community in providing facilities. As you know, more than 160 thousand new refugees have come since September 11. Similar number came in the winter last year. We are trying our best to cope with this, but there is no decision of the Government of Pakistan that should be a cause of anxiety regarding forcible repatriation of Afghans. We hope very much that as a result of peace, people will begin to go back. You will all be very pleased to know that within the last several days more Afghans have gone back to their country than refugees have poured in.

Q. Asked if the OIC was concerned that the United States may indeed turn its military attention soon from Afghanistan to Saddam Hussain in Iraq, the Secretary General of the OIC said:

A. I can answer your question by saying that only yesterday, I heard Foreign Minister or Secretary of State Colin Powell saying that the United States has no intention or does not even think of directing any military action towards Iraq. This is a political stand on part of the United States that we appreciate, and this is an official position. But, if suppose, that the United Sates will direct its military action towards Iraq, that will be contrary to the decisions that have already been taken by the Islamic Foreign Ministers in Doha. We forcefully stand with the United States for combating terrorism, but we can only reject any kind of military action against Iraq or any other Muslim country.

Q. When the Foreign Minister’s attention was drawn to a statement by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, wherein he had expressed reservations about the viability of the proposed interim set-up in Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister said:

A. I am sorry, I am not fully aware of the statement that he has given. But if he has said that, he should read the statement issued by the Government of Pakistan in Islamabad. It is absolutely clear.

The Secretary General of the OIC said: I would like to add few things to what His Excellency the Foreign Minister has said. I would like to say that regarding the question of Afghanistan, all OIC members look forward to see stability, peace and normalcy in Afghanistan. With this, of course, we will put all our weight to help the Afghan people. I would also like to add that we are fed up of the situation in Afghanistan that has lasted for more than 20 years of turbulent life and we would like now to put all our weight in order to see that the situation in Afghanistan comes back to normalcy and that the people of Afghanistan with a free and independent will, pave the way for a lasting solution to their problems.

The Foreign Minister added: Just to re-assure you about Pakistan’s stance, number one: From the very beginning, Pakistan has supported UN resolutions with regard to Afghanistan. Secondly, we appreciate the delegates at Bonn for the accommodation that they have shown and the spirit of reconciliation that is manifest in the agreement that they signed yesterday. We have also announced that Pakistan will immediately enter into relations with the interim Administration, as soon as it takes office on the 22nd of December and finally, we have publicly assured the incoming Administration that Pakistan will extend its full cooperation in the realization of the objectives to which the Afghans have agreed at Bonn.

Q. To a question whether the OIC would contemplate taking solid measures to avert another Mazar-i-Sharif like carnage in Tora Bora and Kandahar, the Secretary General of the OIC said:

A. The OIC vigilantly follows all the international events that are occurring around the world. We are not seeking to bypass certain things. We follow these things with serenity and calm. We have taken into consideration the moral and political position of the OIC with regard to what is going on around the world. We only intervene once we see that effective things are happening and then we take our responsibility and act accordingly. We are now waiting to see efforts of Mr. Kofi Annan regarding what happened in Mazar-e-Sharif and after that if anything happens in the future also, we will face it with the same resolve and attention.

Q. When asked about his personal views about the Bonn Agreement, the Foreign Minister stated:

A. I am sure, you have read this agreement as well as the composition of the interim Administration. The determining factor is that this agreement has been signed by the Afghan dignitaries, who were invited by the United Nations to meet in Bonn. Afghanistan is a sovereign state. The United Nations is trying to facilitate and has successfully facilitated an agreement. I think, at this time, all friends of Afghanistan should hope and pray that the agreement that has been signed will be implemented in the letter and the spirit.n

Reference:  http://www.forisb.org