Turkish President Erdogan raised the issue of Kashmir again at the UN General Assembly, calls for dialogue between India and Pakistan within the UN | Today’s news
In his speech at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue of Kashmir again and called for resolving disputes in South Asia through dialogue and within the framework of the UN Charter.
“In South Asia, it is important that all disputes, including the Kashmir issue, be resolved through dialogue within the framework of the UN Charter and relevant resolutions,” Erdogan said.
The statement was made in the presence of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Erdogan’s latest intervention marks a continuation of Ankara’s repeated mentions of Kashmir at the UN.
Erdogan’s previous references to Kashmir at the UN
Erdogan has previously used his address to the UN General Assembly to call for a solution to the Kashmir issue. At the UN General Assembly in 2025, he expressed support for resolving the issue through dialogue and referred to an India-Pakistan ceasefire.
The 2019 remarks sparked acrimonious Indo-Turkey tensions
Erdogan’s comments on Kashmir became particularly controversial after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 in August 2019.
At the 74th UN General Assembly in September, Erdogan said millions of people in Kashmir were effectively under restrictions and argued that the international community had not paid enough attention to the dispute.
These remarks provoked a strong reaction from New Delhi and contributed to the deterioration of Indo-Turkish relations. India has repeatedly told Ankara that it should respect Indian sovereignty and refrain from commenting on matters it considers internal.
India rejects third party mediation
New Delhi’s position on Kashmir has remained consistent: any outstanding issues with Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally, without external mediation.
India has also repeatedly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in statements issued by other countries. In response to the 2024 China-Pakistan Joint Statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh “were, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India” and said no other country had locus standi to comment on the issue.
Earlier this year, India reiterated its position on Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations, rejecting Pakistan’s references to the issue and terming the issue as part of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Erdogan’s stance on Kashmir has remained consistent
The Turkish president’s latest comments are therefore part of a long-term stance rather than a new shift in Ankara’s policy.
The latest remarks also come amid heightened diplomatic activity around India-Pakistan relations following the 2025 military escalation and subsequent ceasefire, which has put Kashmir back in the spotlight at the UN General Assembly.
