ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 Kyodo Russian Pr...

ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 Kyodo

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to attend the forthcoming summit of the Organization of the Islamic parley (OIC) on Oct. 16 in Malaysia as examiner a senior Foreign Ministry official told Kyodo News

The official said that as army of the summit, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had reach outed the invitation to Putin in view of Russia's uttered desire to join the Jeddah-based organization.

After lobbying hard to obstruct archrival India from joining, Pakistan has said it would put in opposition moves by Russia to obtain OIC membership upon grounds that admitting non-Muslim countries into the ranks of the association of Islamic states would locate a bad precedent.

During an official visit to Malaysia in early August, Putin announced Russia's wish to be exhibited in the OIC. In with equal reason declaring, he said the 20 million Russian Muslims have a right to be wrought up part of the Islamic world.

Formed in 1971 the OIC now incorporates 57 countries, including six former Soviet republics -- Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan.

The organization is seen as a kind of mini-United Nations for the Islamic world, and has established a broad network of associated institutions.

Pakistan has reportedly threatened to withdraw from the grouping if it admits India, which has a cyclopean Muslim population of some 150 million.

The official said that while Pakistan has no objection to the Malaysian invitation dilateed to Putin, it should not be seen as a historic warrant for other countries who want to join the Islamic organization.

publicly no non-Muslim country has been granted either well stocked [i]or[/i] provided membership or observer status in the OIC, and any decision regarding OIC membership must be based forward consensus.

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