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Zahid Shahab Ahmed, University of New England (Australia) and Stuti
Bhatnagar, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi, India)
country, the ministry said OIC Council of Foreign Ministers
has no locus standi in this and other matters concerning
India’s internal affairs”. 1
Apart from the concerns from the OIC and the GCC bloc on
the Kashmir dispute, the OIC also adopted a resolution in
response to the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992. 2 It
strongly condemned the destruction of the Babri mosque by
Hindu extremists and expressed deep regret over the failure
of the Indian government to protect this Muslim holy site.
Later in 2001, the Secretary General of the OIC also
expressed concerns over the Indian government allowing
construction of a temple in place of the Babri mosque. The
Secretary General demanded the Indian government to
reconstruct the Babri mosque and protect other religious
sites too. 3
India is home to one of the largest Muslim communities in
the world, approximately 138 million. 4 Owing to this, it has
shown interest in joining the OIC, as an observer nation, as
it wishes to play an active role in the forum of Muslim
nations. India’s inclusion into the OIC as an observer has
been supported by several member states, including Saudi
Arabia, Malaysia, Iran and Egypt, but is opposed by Pakistan
owing to the Indo-Pak rivalry. Pakistan Foreign office
spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that “giving observer
status to non-Muslim countries is under discussion. The
criteria, apart from what is being worked out, are that any
country which wishes to acquire observer status with the
OIC should not be involved in any dispute with a member
1
“India regrets OIC Kashmir issue comment”:
http://www.andhranews.net/India/2008/June/27-India-regrets-51559.asp
2 The mosque was demolished by the Hindu nationalists in December
1992.
3
“Rebuild Babri Mosque: OIC”, Islamic Voice, January 2001:
http://www.islamicvoice.com/january.2001/news.htm
4 Census of India 2001, Office of the Registrar General & Census
Commissioner, India.
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