In a first, India has been invited as the guest of honour at an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation or OIC meet.
India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will be attending the 46th foreign minister meet of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation as 'Guest of Honour'. The 46th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers will take place from 1st to 2nd March in Abu Dhabi. India has been invited by Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) in a statement said, "We see this invitation as a welcome recognition of the presence of 185 million Muslims in India and of their contribution to its pluralistic ethos, and of India’s contribution to the Islamic world."
India also thanked UAE for its invitation saying New Delhi sees the "invitation as the desire of the enlightened leadership of the UAE to go beyond our rapidly growing close bilateral ties" and "forge a true multifaceted partnership at the multilateral and international level". Adding further, New Delhi said, the invitation is a "milestone in our comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE."
Statement from UAE's foreign ministry said, "Will open session next Friday..with the participation of 56 member states & 5 observer states, as well as the friendly Republic of India with all its International political weight and diverse cultural heritage and an important Islamic component, as a guest of honour."
This is a major development since OIC has not been very pro-India and has been issuing statements on Kashmir on Pakistan's insistence. This also shows New Delhi's 'Look West Policy,' which has seen a number of high-level engagements between India and West Asia, is making an impact. This, despite hyphenation between Israel and Palestine, something that was criticised since it was seen as a policy that could alienate New Delhi in many Arab capitals. This also recognises India being home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the world & contribution of Indian Muslims to India's pluralistic ethos.
It is interesting to know Fakrudin Ali Ahmed as Indian representative was not allowed to attend the final session of OIC meet in 1969 in Rabat, Morocco at the behest of Pakistan's President, Yahya Khan.
