Mahmoud Barakat
01 March 2019•Update: 01 March 2019
ABU DHABI
The 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) kicked off Friday in United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi, according to Emirates News Agency.
Speaking at the opening session, Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, criticized Iran and accused it of "fueling conflicts in the region".
He went on to express his country's support to the Palestinian people and its demands including establishing an independent state on the border of 1967.
In an earlier statement, Pakistan's FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi said he will not attend the meeting, but a lower-level delegation will represent the country.
He pointed out that the decision was taken after the UAE did not retract its invitation to India despite strong objection by Pakistan.
Tensions between the two nuclear armed-neighbors escalated following a suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir in mid-February that left more 40 Indian troops dead.
The attack was claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM), a militant group that Pakistan has banned since 2002 but is accused by India of providing sanctuary.
Both countries engaged in an aerial dogfight on Wednesday along the disputed border with Kashmir, the first in decades, where they claimed to have shot down each other's fighter jets.
