India slams OIC for 'wilful blindness' on terror victim vs perpetrator
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
India delivered a sharp rebuke to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the United Nations General Assembly's Sixth Committee on 7 October, accusing the bloc of failing to distinguish between 'victim and perpetrator' in its statements on Kashmir and New Delhi's counterterror operations against Pakistan-based terror infrastructure.
India's Core Charge
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, part of India's delegation to the ongoing UN General Assembly session, responded directly to a statement delivered by Saudi Arabia on behalf of the OIC. 'India retains the right to defend its people against cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan,' Deb stated. He added a pointed warning: 'Indeed, there will be consequences for indulging in terrorism.'
Deb specifically called out the OIC for what he described as 'wilful blindness,' saying the bloc's inability to 'separate fact from fiction' amounted to 'bigotry and intolerance.' He was addressing India's 'focused and measured actions against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, from where terrorist attacks against India were planned and directed.'
What the OIC Statement Said
The OIC statement, delivered by its current chair Saudi Arabia, did not directly name India but made identifiable references to New Delhi's retaliatory strikes against terrorist bases in Pakistan. The strikes followed the Pahalgam massacre, carried out by a Pakistan-based terror organisation. The statement also referenced Kashmir, which India characterised as an unwarranted intrusion into its internal affairs.
India's Counter: Focus on Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
Deb turned the OIC's own framing back on the bloc, urging it to address conditions in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). 'The OIC chair would do better to focus on Pakistan's illegal occupation, especially in Rawalakot, where wanton killings, brutal violence, and the denial of basic rights to the people living there are so visible,' he said.
According to human rights groups, over 90 people have been killed in recent months in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Pakistan government has reportedly suppressed a popular movement for economic rights, against demographic changes, and against alleged election manipulation — with critics arguing the military has been the driving force behind the crackdown.
Broader Context
This is not the first time India has clashed with the OIC at multilateral forums over Kashmir. The OIC has historically taken positions aligned with Pakistan's claims on the territory, a stance New Delhi consistently rejects as interference in its sovereign affairs. This latest exchange comes amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attack and India's subsequent counterterror response, which drew international attention and varying reactions from global bodies. Notably, India's decision to respond at the Sixth Committee — which deals with international legal matters — signals a deliberate effort to frame the counterterror operations within the legal right to self-defence.
With the General Assembly session ongoing, further exchanges between India and OIC member states on these issues are widely expected.