View source for Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

{{Short description|Relations between Pakistan and the OIC}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2017}}
[[File:Flag of Pakistan.svg|thumb|right|[[Flag of Pakistan]]]]
'''[[Pakistan]]''' continues to enjoy a privileged status in the '''[[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]]''' (OIC, formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference). In terms of population, it is the OIC's second largest member. Pakistan is the only Muslim country to have detonated [[nuclear weapons]], has the [[List of countries by number of active troops|sixth-largest]] standing military force in the world and a large [[Pakistani diaspora|labour workforce]] working in various Muslim countries.
==Weakened Relations of Pakistan with OIC==
Amid the Indo - Pak tensions, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj was invited as "Guest of Honour" by [[UAE]] to represent India as an [[Observer state]]
Pakistan rejected this development and demanded the expulsion of India from the summit citing Kashmir issue and Indian violation of airspace of Pakistan, a founding member of OIC. OIC called emergency meeting of Kashmir contact group on Pakistan's request, the meeting was on February 26, 2019. Although, OIC condemned Indian violation of Pakistani airspace by India, UAE refused to revert invitation to India
Hence, for the first time in five decades, the United Arab Emirates invited foreign minister of India Sushma Swaraj to attend the inaugural plenary [[46th meeting of OIC foreign ministers]] held in [[Abu Dhabi]] on 1 and 2 March. [[Pakistan]] boycotted the meet objecting to the invitation to India.
==OIC role in Pakistan-Bangladesh relationship==
It was under the pretext of the 2nd summit of OIC held in [[Lahore]] between 22 and 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's then prime minister [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]], to invite [[Sheikh Mujibur Rehman]] to attend. A seven-member delegation from OIC in fact visited [[Dhaka]] to invite [[Sheikh Mujib]] to participate in the summit. As a result of the 2nd OIC summit, Pakistan formally recognised Bangladesh on 22 February 1974, and [[Sheikh Mujib]] was flown by a special aircraft from [[Dhaka]] to Lahore to attend the summit.<ref>South Asia in world politics By Devin T. Hagerty, Rowman & Littlefield, 2005, p 73.</ref> Bhutto subsequently visited Dhaka in July 1974. Established relations on 18 January 1976.
Pakistan has raised many important issues at the second summit of OIC.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Organisation of The Islamic Conference and Conflict Resolution: Case Study of the Kashmir Dispute|journal = Pakistan Horizon|volume = 63|issue = 2|pages = 83–94|publisher = [[Pakistan Institute of International Affairs]]|author = Saira Bano Orakzai. Pakistan Horizon, 63(2), 83.|date = 2010|jstor = 24711087}}</ref> Pakistan has had frayed relations with India and because of [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|its involvement]] in [[Bangladesh Liberation War|civil war]], [[East Pakistan]] seceded from [[West Pakistan]] in 1971. The intervention gave rise to the state of Bangladesh.
==Pakistan's solidarity with Palestine==
{{Main|Pakistan–Palestine relations|Israel–Pakistan relations}}
Pakistan assisted [[Jordan]] in [[Black September|military operations]] to suppress freedom movement by [[Palestine Liberation Organisation]]. However, Pakistan  is a critic of occupation of [[Palestinian territories]] by Jewish [[Israel|state of Israel]]. In line with OIC strong stance against the occupation of Palestine by [[Zionist]]s, Pakistan has continuously adopted a stance against [[Israel]].
==Military cooperation==
{{See also|Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations|Pakistan-Turkey relations|Pakistan-Indonesia relations|Pakistan-United Arab Emirates relations|Pakistan-Brunei relations|Nigeria–Pakistan relations}}
Pakistan enjoys sound and steadfast military [[Pakistani Armed Forces#Middle Eastern Countries|defence relations with many members of OIC]].
===Army collaboration===
Army Service Corps School has trained up to 30 officers from Muslim countries like Bangladesh, Bosnia, Maldives, Palestine, Turkey.<ref>[http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=275&rnd=482 Army Service Corps School, Pakistan Army official website, retrieved 11/Jan/2011]</ref> Pakistan Army [[Military College of Signals]] has trained more than 500 officers<ref>[http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=272&rnd=479 Military College of Signals, Pakistan Army official website, retrieved 11/Jan/2011]</ref> 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]].<ref>[http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/Pna.htm Pakistan Naval Academy, Pakistan Navy official website, retrieved 10/Jan/20111]</ref> Pakistan [[Special Service Group Navy|SSGN]] has also trained officers from countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Iran.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/ssg_marines.htm |title=SSG(N) and Marines |website=Pakistan Navy |access-date=11 Jan 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419131629/http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/ssg_marines.htm |archive-date=2012-04-19 }}</ref>
===Military technology collaboration===
Pakistan is thought to have developed its atomic bomb programme with millions of dollars of contributory aid from (mostly) Saudi Arabia and Libyan oil wealth.<ref>Moshe Yegar, "Pakistan and Israel," Jewish Political Stusdies Review 19:3-4 (Fall 2007)</ref>
==OIC on the issue of Kashmir==
{{See also|Kashmir conflict|Organisation of Islamic Cooperation#Dispute with 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, King Hassan requested the Indian delegates not to attend the meeting.<ref>Studies In World Affairs, Volume 1 By Ed. K.R Gupta, Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 2005, p 232-233.</ref>
During the OIC 1994 Conference in Tehran, Pakistan succeeded in persuading the member countries to create the "OIC Contact Group on Kashmir". {{citation needed|date=August 2012}} The [[Foreign Minister of Pakistan]] would discuss the possibility of cutting ties with any state that recognized [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] as "Integral part of India" by safeguarding our national security and geo-strategic interests including Kashmir; some countries are not recognized by Pakistan because of their move towards against the self-determination of Kashmiris as a form of aggression. These countries are the [[State of Israel]], [[Armenia]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Liberia]] and [[Zambia]].{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}
[[2019 Pulwama attack|A suicide bombing on Indian Forces]] on 14 February 2019, followed by Indian claim Air Strike subsequently led to [[2019 India–Pakistan standoff|a military stand off]] between India and Pakistan.
India with its expanding diplomatic, economic and military clout, has been strengthening its relations with middle east. Hence, amid the tensions, Indian Foreign Minister [[Sushma Swaraj]] was invited as "Guest of Honour" by UAE to represent India as an observer state.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/indias-global-stature-and-islamic-component-help-it-get-oic-invite/articleshow/68145827.cms|title=India's 'global stature' and 'islamic component' help it get OIC invite|date=25 February 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|newspaper=Economic Times}}</ref>
Pakistan rejected this development and demanded the expulsion of India from the summit citing Kashmir issue and Indian violation of airspace of Pakistan, a founding member of OIC.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Orakzai|first= S. |year=2010|title= Organisation of The Islamic Conference and Conflict Resolution: Case Study of the Kashmir Dispute. Pakistan Horizon, 63(2)|journal= Pakistan Horizon |volume= 63 |issue= 2 |page= 88|jstor=24711087}}</ref> OIC called emergency meeting of Kashmir contact group on Pakistan's request, the meeting was on February 26, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1465810|title=OIC calls emergency meeting of Kashmir contact group on Pakistan's request |last=Siddiqui |first=Naveed |date=2019-02-25|website=DAWN.COM|language=en|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> Although, OIC condemned Indian violation of Pakistani airspace by India, UAE refused to revert invitation to India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/oic-slams-strikes-advises-india-and-pakistan-restraint/articleshow/68177136.cms |title=OIC slams strikes, advises India and Pakistan restraint |date=27 February 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|newspaper=Times of India}}</ref>
Hence, for the first time in five decades, the United Arab Emirates invited [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|foreign minister of India]] [[Sushma Swaraj]] to attend the inaugural plenary 46th meeting of OIC foreign ministers held in Abu Dhabi on 1 and 2 March.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/india-invited-as-guest-of-honour-to-oic-meet-sushma-swaraj-to-attend-1550913750935.html|title=India invited as 'guest of honour' to OIC meet, Sushma Swaraj to attend|publisher=Live Mint|date=24 February 2019 |access-date=1 March 2019|first=Elizabeth|last=Roche}}</ref> [[Pakistan]] boycotted the meet objecting to the invitation to India. Swaraj addressed the meet raising concern for spreading terrorism.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/live-sushma-swaraj-in-uae-to-attend-oic-meet-expected-to-raise-terror-issue/story-kTr1Oaf6EbAj1Om4xljeuJ.html|title=LIVE - Reach of terror growing, says Sushma at OIC meet amid Pak boycott|publisher=Hindustan Times|date=1 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Islamic Summit Minar]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Foreign relations of Pakistan}}
{{Organisation of Islamic Cooperation}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Organisation of Islamic Cooperation - Pakistan Relations}}
[[Category:Multilateral relations of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|Pakistan]]