India Rejects OIC Statement on Pahalgam Terror Attack, Calls It “Absurd” and “Misguided”
New Delhi, May 6, 2025 – India has issued a sharp rebuke to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over its statement on the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly Hindu tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) labeled the OIC’s remarks as “absurd” and accused the bloc of acting at Pakistan’s behest to ignore the attack’s cross-border linkages. The statement, issued by the OIC Group in New York, has been met with strong rejection from New Delhi, which views it as an attempt to interfere in India’s internal matters.
The Pahalgam attack, the deadliest on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, saw five armed militants target tourists in Baisaran Valley, a scenic meadow near Pahalgam. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, initially claimed responsibility, citing opposition to India’s policy allowing non-Kashmiris to settle in the region. Survivors reported that the attackers singled out Hindus, asking victims to recite Islamic verses or identify their religion before shooting. The brutality sparked widespread outrage in India, protests across Kashmir condemning the violence, and a global wave of condolences from leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Saudi Arabia.
The OIC’s statement, which expressed concern over rising tensions and criticized India’s “harsh rhetoric” post-attack, drew immediate ire. India’s MEA, in a strongly worded response, stated, “The OIC statement, issued at the behest of Pakistan, is absurd in refusing to recognise the facts of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and its cross-border linkages. This is yet another attempt by Pakistan to mislead the OIC and cover up its own role in cross-border terrorism. We reject the OIC’s interference in India’s internal matters.” Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with users like @MeghUpdates and @TejinderSsodhi amplifying India’s stance, calling the OIC’s remarks a “ploy” to shield Pakistan.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, pointing to intelligence linking the militants—two of whom were identified as Pakistani nationals—to handlers across the border. In response, India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, closed the Attari-Wagah border, banned Pakistani airlines from its airspace, and restricted Pakistani social media accounts, including those of prominent cricketers. Pakistan, denying involvement, condemned the attack but proposed a “neutral” probe, a suggestion India dismissed. The United Nations Security Council condemned the attack but, under pressure from Pakistan and China, diluted its statement, avoiding mention of TRF or cooperation with India’s government.
The OIC’s statement has strained India’s ties with the 57-member bloc, which includes Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE—countries that condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with India. Analysts note a shift, with Saudi Arabia’s strong denouncement signaling closer ties with New Delhi over Islamabad. Domestic voices, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, slammed Pakistan’s actions, likening the attack to ISIS tactics and urging India to occupy terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
As tensions escalate, with Pakistan conducting military exercises and India planning a nationwide civil defense drill on May 7, the rejection of the OIC statement underscores India’s resolve to counter narratives that deflect blame from Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation, vowed to “identify, track, and punish” the perpetrators, signaling a robust response. For now, India’s diplomatic offensive, backed by global allies, aims to isolate Pakistan while seeking justice for the victims of Pahalgam.
Sources: The Hindu, India Today, Times of India, NDTV, BBC, X posts