In yet another setback to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia has once again declined Pakistan’s request for an urgent meeting of the council of foreign ministers on Kashmir at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). In December, Pakistan had trumpeted that it secured a diplomatic win by prevailing on Saudi Arabia to hold a special session on Kashmir at the OIC. However, officials in New Delhi had expressed skepticism about the news, saying that the OIC did not make any official announcement or issue any confirmation of the meeting.

In February Pakistani media reported that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s plea for a discussion on Kashmir has been rejected by Saudi Arabia. The OIC is holding its senior officials’ meeting in Jeddah on February 9 to make arrangements for the council of foreign ministers.

Khan has been campaigning around the world against India ever since the Narendra Modi-led government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August last year. Recently, Khan was forced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamad Bin Salman to cancel his trip to Malaysia where he intended to slam India over Kashmir at the Islamic Summit hosted by the Mahathir Mohamad government in Malaysia.