New Delhi: On Saturday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj will address the inaugural session of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meet in Abu Dhabi next month. Swaraj will address the inaugural plenary of the 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation will be held in Abu Dhabi during 1st and 2nd March said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement. United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan extended the invitation to Swaraj.

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MEA said in a statement on Saturday “We see this invitation as the desire of the enlightened leadership of the UAE to go beyond our rapidly growing close bilateral ties and forge a true multifaceted partnership at the multilateral and international level,”.  The invitation to Swaraj from the influential grouping of Muslim countries is a symbol of growing Indian influence globally, said foreign policy watchers. The invitation also sends a stern message to Pakistan that OIC views India as an important ally.

MEA added “We see this invitation as a milestone in our comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE. We also see this invitation as a welcome recognition of the presence of 185 million Muslims in India and of their contribution to its pluralistic ethos, and of India’s contribution to the Islamic world,”.

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India accepted the invitation and is likely to use the forum to address the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism which regularly targets Indian assets.  OIC is a grouping of 57 Islamic countries of which Pakistan is full member. Other important members such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE are important trade partners of India.