Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the Kashmir issue again during his Erdogan UN speech at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He said disputes in South Asia, including Kashmir, should be settled through dialogue and in line with the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.
Erdogan made the statements while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present at the UN session. He stated that governments should address regional conflicts through diplomacy rather than leaving them unsettled.
Erdogan UN Speech Focuses on Dialogue Over Kashmir
During his talk, Erdogan stated that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through negotiation within the framework of the United Nations Charter. In addition, while explaining the conflict, he referenced to pertinent UN resolutions.
The Turkish president has mentioned Kashmir multiple times in his speeches to the UN General Assembly. He also addressed the topic in 2019, when India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370.
His recent remarks come against the backdrop of India and Pakistan’s long-running disagreement over Kashmir. Erdogan has maintained good ties with Islamabad and has frequently urged for a peaceful settlement to the situation.
India’s Position on the Kashmir Issue
India has always opposed efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue. New Delhi claims that Jammu & Kashmir is an intrinsic part of India.
India has also stated that tensions with Pakistan should be resolved peacefully through bilateral talks. It has rejected the use of third parties to resolve disputes between the two countries.
Erdogan’s remarks on Kashmir were part of a larger speech that addressed various foreign topics. A substantial portion of his speech focused on Gaza and Palestine, and he also advocated for changes to the UN Security Council’s framework.
The Turkish president challenged the current arrangement, which gives five permanent members enormous power over Security Council decisions. He contended that decisions impacting more than 190 countries should not be effectively based on only five members.
Erdogan also asked countries that have not accepted Palestine to reconsider their stance. He stated that Turkey would continue to speak in support of Palestinians at the United Nations.
The speech also addressed the hostilities in Ukraine and the Middle East. As part of his overall statements at the UN General Assembly, Erdogan addressed regional security and freedom of navigation.
The Kashmir problem remains a frequent topic of discussion in Erdogan’s UN speeches. His most recent words framed the debate within a broader plea for discussion and negotiations to resolve international conflicts.
