India hits back at Turkey after Turkish President Edrogan again rakes up Kashmir issue at United Nations General Assembly

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again referred to the issue of Kashmir in his address to world leaders at the high-level UN General Assembly session.

Last year also, Mr. Erdogan in his pre-recorded video statement to the General Debate had made a reference to Jammu and Kashmir.

India at that time termed it as “completely unacceptable”, saying Turkey should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply.

Mr. Erdogan in his address to the General Debate on Tuesday said: “We maintain our stance in favour of solving the ongoing problem in Kashmir for 74 years, through dialogue between the parties and within the framework of relevant United Nations resolutions.” The Turkish President, a close ally of Pakistan, had repeatedly raised the issue of Kashmir in his address to the high-level General Debate.

Last year also, Erdogan in his pre-recorded video statement to the General debate had made a reference to Jammu and Kashmir.

India at that time termed it as "completely unacceptable", saying Turkey should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply.

He had also raised the kashmir issue during his visit to Pakistan last year.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at that time said Mr Erdogan's remarks reflected neither an understanding of history nor of the conduct of diplomacy and that they will have strong implications on India's ties with Turkey.

Hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a close ally of Pakistan, raked up the Kashmir issue in his address at the UN General Assembly in New York, India called for respecting UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.

In his address on Tuesday, Erdogan said, “We maintain our stance in favour of solving the ongoing problem in Kashmir for 74 years, through dialogue between the parties and within the framework of relevant United Nations resolutions.”

Last year also, Erdogan in his pre-recorded video statement to the General Debate, had made a reference to Kashmir. 

Hours after the Turkish president’s speech, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during a bilateral meeting with his Cyprus counterpart Nikos Christodoulides, emphasised the need to adhere to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions with respect to the east Mediterranean island.

Tweeting about his meeting, Jaishankar on Wednesday said, “Working to take our economic ties forward. Appreciated his regional insights. Important that relevant UN Security Council resolutions in respect of Cyprus are adhered to by all”. 

Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup and this created Northern Cyprus. North Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey, while the Republic of Cyprus, run by Greek Cypriots, is internationally recognized and rest of the world still believes this territory still belongs to Cyprus.

India highlighted this dispute as a consequence of Edrogan's speech.