No resistance from Pakistan against India being Guest of Honour at OIC, says UAE

The theme of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) session is going to be "50 years of Islamic cooperation: the road map for prosperity and development.

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In Short

  • This is the 50th anniversary of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
  • Pakistan is a member of OIC as well
  • There hasn't been any resistance from Pakistan so far

India will be the 'Guest of Honour' in 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj would represent India and deliver the keynote address at the inaugural plenary.

The session will be held under the theme: "50 years of Islamic cooperation: the road map for prosperity and development", coinciding with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the organization.

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The Indian Minister for External Affairs was invited by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates through a letter.

Despite tensions between India and Pakistan, which is a member of the OIC, there has been no resistance to the invitation. Speaking exclusively to INDIA TODAY TV, UAE ambassador to India Dr Ahmed Al Banna confirmed, "As far as I know, there has been no resistance from any country yet, not even Pakistan."

Sources say that with the critical relationship of financial dependence that Pakistan has with the two most important OIC nations UAE and Saudi Arabia, it would be "difficult" and "near impossible" for Pakistan to protest against a decision taken by Abu Dhabi.

A statement issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "We see this invitation as the desire of the enlightened leadership of the UAE to go beyond our rapidly growing close bilateral ties and forge a true multifaceted partnership at the multilateral and international level."

The 46th Session will be held in Abu Dhabi on 1st and 2nd March, 2019.