India decides to ignore OIC resolution on Kashmir

India has decided to ignore the resolution on Kashmir passed by the extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Islamabad.

Indian officials are of the view that the resolution, which condemned India and supported Pakistan's efforts on resolving the Kashmir issue, should not be allowed to overshadow the Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks which resume after three years on Friday, March 28.

Sources said Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had already reacted to the OIC resolution without mentioning the organisation by name. The prime minister's statement was intended to convey the message that India's readiness for talks should not be misconstrued as a concession on Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said.

They said the OIC had no locus standi since it was known to be an organisation dominated by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. ''The Saudis use Pakistan as also the OIC in its strategic confrontation with Iran,'' the sources said, adding that in private the OIC members had themselves asked New Delhi not to take its anti-Iindia resolutions seriously.

Pakistan, the sources noted, had been using the OIC forum for maligning India since the 1990 Egypt summit.

''These resolutions are not voted upon. They have no value whatsoever in international affairs. Most countries, including those who are members of the OIC, don't attach much significance to these resolutions.''

Saudi Arabia, the sources said, had asked India not to take the OIC resolutions seriously. ''We have the best of relations with Saudi Arabia,'' they added.