Overview
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs publicly rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s references to Jammu and Kashmir during his UN General Assembly address through spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a routine press briefing.
- Erdogan had told the UNGA that disputes in South Asia, including Kashmir, should be addressed through dialogue under the United Nations Charter.
- The MEA said the Kashmir issue pertains to India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and that no external party has any locus standi on the matter.
- India’s response follows a pattern of diplomatic pushback after Erdogan raised Kashmir previously, including remarks during a visit to Pakistan in February 2025 that prompted a formal protest in New Delhi.
- Broader regional shifts, notably closer Turkish ties with Pakistan and the August Mecca Pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, provide context for New Delhi’s sensitivity and suggest the exchanges could keep bilateral relations strained.