Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), calling for its resolution in line with UN resolutions and through dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Addressing the 80th UNGA session in New York on Tuesday, Mr Erdogan said Turkiye was “pleased” with the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan earlier this year but cautioned that without a fair settlement of the Kashmir dispute, regional peace would remain fragile.
“The issue of Kashmir should be resolved on the basis of UN resolutions for the best interests of our brothers and sisters in Kashmir. Through dialogue, we hope this can be achieved,” he said, adding that the dispute was not merely a border conflict but a question of fundamental rights for millions of Kashmiris.
The Turkish president further noted that unless the people of Jammu and Kashmir were granted their right to self-determination, “genuine peace in the region will remain elusive”.
Reaction in Srinagar and India
In Srinagar, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) welcomed Mr Erdogan’s remarks. APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas said the statement was “an eye-opener for India”, claiming that the international community was no longer willing to accept what he described as New Delhi’s “false narrative” on the issue. Indian media outlets, however, strongly criticised the Turkish president’s comments.
This is not the first time Mr Erdogan has referred to Kashmir in his annual UNGA address. In previous years, the Turkish leader has also called for international engagement on the dispute, drawing appreciation from pro-Kashmir groups and criticism from India.
