Bilawal Participates in the 49th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari led the Pakistan delegation to the 49th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held on 16-17 March 2023 in Nouakchott, Mauritania. With successful completion of Pakistan’s tenure, he formally handed over the Chairmanship of CFM to Foreign Minister of Mauritania, H.E. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, the incoming Chair of the 49th OIC CFM.

At the Council, the Foreign Minister underscored the importance of the unity of Islamic Ummah and the role of OIC in overcoming challenges to peace, security and development. He highlighted Palestine and Kashmir as the common causes of the OIC and called for international support for the people of Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister appreciated OIC’s consistent and unequivocal support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and urged concrete action for the realization of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination as per relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

The Foreign Minister advocated for OIC action against Islamophobia and climate change. He proposed that the OIC create a “Committee for the Future” to chart a long-term strategy for sustainable growth and development of OIC members.

In Nouakchott, the Foreign Minister participated in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir where he called for an end to human rights violations in IIOJK and underlined OIC’s important role in resolution of the dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the relevant resolutions of OIC and UN Security Council.

On the sidelines of CFM, the Foreign Minister met his counterparts from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Maldives, Mauritania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and OIC Secretary General. The High Representative of UNAOC and Secretary General of Women Development Organization called on the Foreign Minister.