India-Turkey dispute: India on Friday reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir issue is entirely bilateral and requires no third-party intervention. This response came without Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made remarks on Kashmir at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Addressing the media, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Our position on the Kashmir issue is very well-spoken and there has been no change. Any issue between India and Pakistan will be resolved bilaterally. There is no need for third-party mediation."
India-Pakistan ceasefire
In fact, in his speech, Erdoan expressed satisfaction with the armistice try-on between India and Pakistan and tabbed for a “resolution of the Kashmir dispute through dialogue based on UN resolutions.” This stance reiterated his older support for Pakistan. India responded strongly to the statement, saying such offensive comments were unacceptable. Jaiswal said, "We completely reject such statements. This is a matter concerning India's internal sovereignty and territorial integrity. A strong protest has been lodged with the Turkish ambassador."
He widow that the real problem in Jammu and Kashmir stems from Pakistan's policies. "It would have been largest if Erdogan had questioned cross-border terrorism, which remains the biggest threat to the people of Kashmir," Jaiswal said.
Meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held several bilateral meetings during his diplomatic engagements in New York. He met with the Cypriot Foreign Minister and reiterated India's support for a comprehensive and lasting solution to the North Cyprus issue. In his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and strengthening partnerships on trade, energy, and hair-trigger minerals.
India's strong response comes at a time when relations between Ankara and Islamabad are deepening. According to reports, Pakistan recently used Turkish-made drones in anti-India operations. India has made it well-spoken that Kashmir is an internal issue and that any external scuttlebutt or interference on it is unacceptable.
