New Delhi :The situation in Kashmir could figure among the key issues on the agenda of Malaysia-led Kuala Lumpur Summit of Muslim majority nations beginning Wednesday.

The gathering could be seen as a mini-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meet sans key Islamic states — Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

Host Malaysia has invited Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar and Indonesia for the summit as part of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad’s efforts to emerge as a leader of the Islamic world. Some reports said that Iran has also been invited to the summit, but there has been no confirmation regarding this.

Both Malaysia and Turkey have backed Pakistan on Kashmir issue since the Centre, on August 5, withdrew the special status given to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated it into two Union territories.

Pakistan has banked heavily on Turkey and Malaysia following Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s neutral stance on India’s move on Kashmir. Most OIC members have been lukewarm over Pakistan’s efforts to internationalise Kashmir issue.

The plan for the summit was finalised during a trilateral meeting involving Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia in September in New York City on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, ET has learnt.

Pakistan will attempt to bring Kashmir issue at the forefront of the summit, according to people aware of the matter. However, Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population and is a country that prides on its syncretic culture, may not back any move that focuses on Kashmir.

In the past few years, Indonesia has opposed moves by the OIC to adopt strong statements on Kashmir. Indonesia’s ties with India have improved vastly in the past few years as part of partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.

While this summit may not split the OIC in near future, it is a clear attempt by Malaysia backed by Turkey to challenge Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in the Islamic world, according to experts who follow developments in the OIC. The Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019 will be an important platform to bring the true message of Islam to the world, more so to resolve issues on radicalism and Islamophobia, minister in the Malaysian Prime Minister's Department Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa said recently.

As the minister in-charge of Islamic affairs, Rawa said radicalism had inspired terrorist acts, purportedly in the name of religion, that led to Islamophobia, a baseless fear that created discrimination and stigma against Muslims worldwide.

He said the summit, with the Islamic narrative of Rahmatan lil Alamin (compassionate Islam) aims to tell the world that Islam is a progressive and productive religion that wants peace.

Mujahid said the summit was significant not only to Malaysia but also to the entire Muslim world as it would bring together Muslim world leaders to discuss the survival of Muslims.

The summit, scheduled from December 18-21 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, will discuss issues on Muslims based on seven thrusts, namely development and sovereignty; integrity and good governance; culture and identity; justice and freedom; peace, security and defence; trade and investment; as well as the Internet and technology governance.

Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said that his country fully endorsed the Perdana Dialogue, a brainchild of Mahathir Mohammad to bring five Islamic nations together to achieve socio-economic development.

Addressing the Kuala Lumpur Summit ministerial meeting ahead of the summit in Doha recently, Qureshi said the hurdles of governance, development, climate change, terrorism and increasing Islamophobia warranted an integrated and comprehensive response.

Qureshi said Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar, Iran and Turkey accounted for nearly 50% of the total GDP, 37% each of natural gas production and population, and 18% of the total area of the Islamic world.

For the nations situated in close proximity to the strategic maritime points of the world – the Straits of Malacca, Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz and the Bosphorus – there is enormous scope for common development and shared prosperity, said Pakistan’s foreign minister.