India, Sept. 23 -- India on Wednesday strongly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir made by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group, saying the group would be "better advised to counsel Pakistan" instead of offering it a platform.

A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the grouping has no locus standi to comment on matters that are strictly internal to India. It further described the OIC's references to Jammu and Kashmir as "unwarranted and factually incorrect".

"The OIC has no locus standi to pronounce on matters that are strictly internal to India," the MEA said, reiterating that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are "integral and inalienable" parts of India.

The ...