Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

Flag of Pakistan

Logo of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

Pakistan enjoys an excellent privilege status in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC, formerly the Organisation 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 discipled 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 labour workforce working in various Muslim countries plays a significant role in its prominence. Pakistan has one of the highest level of economic integration with other Muslim countries.^[1]

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 recognised 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 recognised Bangladesh on February 22, 1974, and Mujib was flown by a special aircraft from Dacca to Lahore to attend the summit.^[2] Bhutto subsequently visited Dacca in July 1974. Established relations on 18 January 1976.

Pakistan's solidarity with Palestine

Main articles: Pakistan–Palestine relations and Israel–Pakistan relations

In line with OIC strong stance against the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel, Pakistan has continuously adopted strong stance against Israel, while maintaining moral solidarity with Palestine.

Military cooperation

See also Pakistan military cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, UAE, Brunei, Nigeria and Middle Eastern Countries.

Pakistan military personnel were the only non-Saudi military personnel to participate in the Grand Mosque Seizure, given the importance of Masjid al-Haram in the Muslim world, Pakistan's participation in the seizure shows the high level of respect its military personnel command within the Muslim Ummah.

Army collaboration

Army Service Corps School has trained up to 30 officers from Muslim countries like Bangladesh, Bosnia, Maldives, Palestine, Turkey.^[3] Pakistan Army Military College of Signals has trained more than 500 officers^[4] from places such as Burma, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Sudan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE and Zambia, most of these countries are member of OIC.

Naval collaboration

More than 1900 officers from Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Palestine, Turkmenistan, Lebanon, Iran, Ghana, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya and Oman have been trained in Pakistan Naval Academy.^[5] Pakistan SSGN has also trained officers from countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Iran.^[6]

Military technology collaboration

Pakistan developed its nuclear programme with 100s of millions of dollar of aid from Saudi and Libyan oil wealth.^[7]

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 Kahmir 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 apologised and requested the Indian delegates not to attend the meeting.^[8]

During the OIC 1994 Conference in Tehren, Pakistan succeeded in persuading the member countries to create the "OIC Contact Group on Kashmir".^[9]

China's representation in OIC through Pakistan

As a goodwill gesture of China's veto power in support of Pakistan at the UN Security Council, for example the Chinese opposition of UNSC resolution at Pakistan's behest demanding a ban on the militant organisation Jama'at-ud-Da'wah following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Pakistan assured China, that the OIC will not pass any resolution condemning China's 'strike hard' campaign against the Uighur Muslim minority. Pakistan therefore act as a contact point for China's engagement with the Muslim Ummah.^[10]

References

1. ^ International relations of the Asian Muslim states By James P. Piscatori, University Press of America, 1986, p 17.
2. ^ South Asia in world politics By Devin T. Hagerty, Rowman & Littlefield, 2005, p 73.
3. ^ Army Service Corps School, Pakistan Army official website, retrieved 11/Jan/2011
4. ^ Military College of Signals, Pakistan Army official website, retrieved 11/Jan/2011
5. ^ Pakistan Naval Academy, Pakistan Navy official website, retrieved 10/Jan/20111
6. ^ SSGN Marine, Pakistan Navy official website, retrieved 11/Jan/2011
7. ^ Moshe Yegar, "Pakistan and Israel," Jewish Political Studies Review 19:3-4 (Fall 2007)
8. ^ Studies In World Affairs, Volume 1 By Ed. K.R Gupta, Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 2005, p 232-233.
9. ^ Terrorism in northern India: Jammu and Kashmir and the Punjab By Ved Prakash, Gyan Publishing House, 2008, p 44
10. ^ Pakistan: the struggle within By Wilson John, Pearson Education India, 2009, p 183.