The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations which has membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world and ensuring to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
In 1970 the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization’s secretary general. Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is the 9th Secretary General who assumed the office in January 2005 after being elected by the 31st ICFM.
The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and the Muslims, the organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and have strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against the Muslims in all forms and manifestations.
Under the Charter, the Organization aims, inter alia, to:
• Enhance and consolidate the bonds of fraternity and solidarity among the Member States;
• Safeguard and protect the common interests and support the legitimate causes of the Member States and coordinate and unify the efforts of the Member States in view of the challenges faced by the Islamic world in particular and the international community in general;
• Respect the right of self-determination and non-interference in the domestic affairs and to respect sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each Member State;
• Ensure active participation of the Member States in the global political, economic and social decision-making processes to secure their common interests;
• Reaffirm its support for the rights of peoples as stipulated in the UN Charter and international law;
• Strengthen intra-Islamic economic and trade cooperation; in order to achieve economic integration leading to the establishment of an Islamic Common Market;
• Exert efforts to achieve sustainable and comprehensive human development and economic well-being in Member States;
• Protect and defend the true image of Islam, to combat defamation of Islam and encourage dialogue among civilizations and religions;
• Enhance and develop science and technology and encourage research and cooperation among Member States in these fields;
In order to realize these objectives, Member States shall act, inter alia, in accordance with the following principles:
• All Member States commit themselves to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter;
• Member States are sovereign, independent and equal in rights and obligations;
• All Member States shall settle their disputes through peaceful means and refrain from use or threat of use of force in their relations;
• All Member States undertake to respect national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of other Member States and shall refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of others;
• Member States shall uphold and promote, at the national and international levels, good governance, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.
Pakistan enjoys an excellent privilege status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference. In terms of population, it is the OIC second largest member. It status as the Muslim Ummah only nuclear state, boosting a highly disciple world seventh-largest standing military force, with a unique ability to locally produce technologically demanding military hardware within Pakistan, through research at NESCOM and DESTO and a high quality labor workforce working in various Muslim countries plays a significant role in its prominence. Pakistan has one of the highest levels of economic integration with other Muslim countries.
OIC role in Pakistan-Bangladeshi relationship
It was under the pretext of the 2nd summit of OIC held in Lahore between 22–24 February 1974 that Pakistan recognized the former or ex-Eastern Pakistan as the People's Republic of Bangladesh.Pakistan had initially not invited Bangladesh to attend the summit. However as members of the OIC group gathered in Lahore, several heads of the state from the Arab world put pressure on Pakistan then prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, to invite Sheikh Mujibur Rehman to attend. A seven member delegation from OIC in fact visited Dacca to invite Mujib to participate in the summit. As a result of the 2nd OIC summit, Pakistan formally recognized Bangladesh on February 22, 1974, and Mujib was flown by a special aircraft from Dacca to Lahore to attend the summit. Bhutto subsequently visited Dacca in July 1974. Established relations on 18 January 1976.
OIC on the issue of Kashmir
See also Kashmir conflict, OIC dispute with Republic of India.
Pakistan has always used OIC as a platform to gather support on the Kashmir conflict against the Republic of India. In 1969 King Hassan of Morocco invited the Government of India for the 1969 Summit in Rabat. But after Pakistan then ruler Gen Yahya Khan threatened to walk out, an embarrassed King Hassan apologized and requested the Indian delegates not to attend the meeting.
During the OIC 1994 Conference in Tehran, Pakistan succeeded in persuading the member countries to create the "OIC Contact Group on Kashmir".
