It is for the first time that India has been invited to a meeting of the OIC.
Published: Fri 1 Mar 2019, 11:16 AM
Last updated: Fri 1 Mar 2019, 3:30 PM
A concerted global effort is needed to purse nations to dismantle their terrorist infrastructure, and stop supporting and sponsoring terrorism against other countries in the name of religion, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the biggest Islamic conclave in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
In her plenary address as the 'Guest of Honour' at the 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Swaraj said, "If we want to save the humanity, then we must ask the States who provide shelter and funding to the terrorist, to dismantle the infrastructures of terrorist camp and stop providing shelter and funding to the terror organization based in their country."
Her indirect reference to India's long-standing claim that Pakistan is funding and sheltering terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed comes in the wake of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over cross-border terrorism.
Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was conspicuous by his absence at the summit where India is participating after a gap of 50 years. India was invited to be the Guest of Honour at OIC by the UAE, and is reflective of the deeper India-UAE ties.
Fight against terrorism is not fight against any religion
Sushma Swaraj used the platform to urge Islamic nations to rally against the scourge of terrorism emphasising that the fight against terrorism is not a fight against any religion.
"It cannot be. Just as Islam literally means peace, none of the 99 names of Allah mean violence. Similarly, every religion in the world stands for peace, compassion and brotherhood," said the minister.
But, the minister warned that terrorism and extremism bear different names and labels.
"It uses diverse causes. But in each case, it is driven by distortion of religion, and a misguided belief in its power to succeed."
Swaraj said the fight against the menace of terrorism cannot be fought only through military, intelligence or diplomatic means.
"It is also a battle, that must be won through the strength of our values, and the real message of religions. This is a task that states, societies, sages, scholars, spiritual leaders, and families must pursue, through personal contacts and on social media. And, for this faiths must speak to faiths, cultures must engage cultures, communities must build bridges, not erect walls, The youth must shape the future, not destroy lives," said Swaraj.
"The OIC has a huge responsibility and a great opportunity to lift humanity to a higher level of peace and prosperity, and to make this planet a better place, not just for your people, but for rest of the world."
Swaraj also pledged India's support to work with OIC to spread the true "meaning and mission of all religions, promote respect for and between faiths and counter the language of hate with the message of harmony", among other objectives.
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