The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly criticized Pakistan for its continued misuse of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) platform, calling it a "longstanding habit." The remarks were made during a special media briefing held ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.
When asked about Pakistan’s repeated attempts to leverage the OIC to push its agenda, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri responded firmly, stating:
“Pakistan’s misuse of the OIC is a habit of long standing—one that we have consistently spoken out against and raised with our friends and partners within the OIC.”Referring to Islamabad’s tactics as "shenanigans," Misri noted that several OIC member states are aware of and share concerns about Pakistan’s behavior:
“There is a certain view among our colleagues and friends in the OIC regarding these shenanigans. We will continue to voice our position and highlight what we think of Pakistan’s habitual attempts at politicizing the platform.”The OIC, with 57 member states across four continents, is the world’s second-largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations. It aims to represent the collective voice of the Muslim world and promote peace, solidarity, and cooperation among member nations.
Misri’s comments come just days before Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to Saudi Arabia on April 22–23, at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The visit, taking place in Jeddah, marks Modi’s first trip to the Kingdom during his third term in office. He previously visited Saudi Arabia in 2016 and 2019.
The upcoming visit also builds on the momentum from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s State Visit to India in September 2023, during which he co-chaired the inaugural India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council meeting with PM Modi.
Foreign Secretary Misri emphasized that the visit reflects the deepening strategic and economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia:
“The Prime Minister’s visit underscores the strength of the India–Saudi partnership and our shared commitment to regional and global cooperation.” (Reported by: ET)
