The Organization of Islamic Cooperation conference

• The extraordinary conference of the member nations of the OIC on Afghanistan concluded in Islamabad on Sunday without any announcement of humanitarian and economic assistance for the war ravaged country.
• Envoys from 57 islamic nations and observer delegations participated in the conference in Islamabad, the biggest event on Afghanistan after the fall of the US backed government in the country

About OIC:

• It was formerly known as the Organisation of the Islamic Conference
• It is the second largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations.
• It is the collective voice of the Muslim world to ensure and safeguard their interest on economic socio and political areas.
• Its members are 57 states spread over four continents.
• Observer states in the organisation are Bosnia and Herzegovina,Central African Republic,Northern Cyprus (Turkish Cypriot State),Thailand,Russia
• Observer International Organisations in it are Non alignment movement (NAM),United Nations(UN),League of Arab States,African Union Economic Cooperation Organisation.
• Its permanent secretariat is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• Every member of the organisation has a veto.

History of OIC:

• It was established at a historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 25 September 1969.
• The summit was a result of criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

India-OIC Relations:

• The tense relationship between India and Pakistan had a direct impact on India-OIC relations as Pakistan is a founding member of the OIC.
• India has pushed for the OIC to accept India as a member, Pakistan opposes India’s entry into the OIC.
• India was invited to attend the first summit of the OIC 50 years ago in 1969 in Morocco.
• But the Indian delegation had to return midway due to a withdrawal of the invitation after Pakistan’s objection.
• In 2002, it was Qatar that first proposed observer status for India at the OIC foreign ministers’ meet but Pakistan had consistently blocked the move.
• In 2018, Bangladesh along with Turkey proposed restructuring of the charter of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to pave way for the inclusion of non-Muslim countries like India as an ‘observer state’.
• the United Arab Emirates invited foreign minister of India Sushma Swaraj for the first time in five decades to attend the inaugural 46th meeting of OIC foreign ministers which was boycotted by Pakistan

Key highlights of the conference:

• Taliban government was not given formal recognition
• It was referred to indirectly as members of OIC pledged to set up a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan as millions face hunger and poverty.
• This trust fund will be set up under the aegis of the Islamic Development Bank.
• It would provide a cover for countries to donate without dealing directly with the country’s Taliban rulers.
• The amount of fund was unclear
• It urged Afghanistan’s rulers to abide by international rules and obligations under international human rights covenants, especially with regards to the rights of women, children, youth, elderly and people with special needs.
• It was noted that Afghan economy is in free fall
• The participating leaders urged the international community, especially USA, to unlock the financial and banking channels of Afghanistan.