In a snub to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had advocated a multilateral dialogue to resolve Kashmir issue with Pakistan, India today informed Turkey that it is bilateral matter between the neighbours, which is essentially due to cross-border terrorism.
India categorically conveyed to Turkey its position that Kashmir was essentially a terrorism issue, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.
The tactic rejection of Erdogan's suggestion came in the course of his discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the two countries held that "no intent or goal or reason or rationale can validate terrorism" and decided to work together to deepen cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to effectively counter this menace.
Erdogan also assured India of his country's full support in the fight against terrorism as he held "extensive" discussion on this evolving threat with Modi, who described it as a "shared worry".
However, Modi-Erdogan meeting came in the shadow of Turkish president's comments on Kashmir, made during a TV interview ahead of his visit to India.
Erdogan had said, "We should not allow more casualties to occur (in Kashmir). By having a multilateral dialogue, (in which) we can be involved, we can seek ways to settle the issue once and for all."
The remarks were not well received here as they were contrary to the position of India, which maintains that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral matter between it and Pakistan, and that there is no scope for a third party mediation.
“Our case essentially was Kashmir is an issue of terrorism that has dogged us for 40 years, cross-border terrorism and state-sponsored terror,” Baglay said.
“As far as the issue is concerned, we are ready to address any issue between India and Pakistan bilaterally through peaceful means as has been stipulated in the Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration," he said.
Asked if the Kashmir issue or Erdogan's proposal of multilateral dialogue to resolve it figured during the meeting between the two leaders, Baglay said India's position that Kashmir is its integral part is very sharp and publicly known.
"We conveyed our viewpoint clearly on terrorism and Kashmir (to the Turkish side). It was made clear that there cannot be any justification for terrorism whatever is the intent. We clearly conveyed that the issue of Kashmir is essentially an issue of terrorism.
"We told them that we have been victims of cross-border terrorism and and state-sponsored terrorism for 40 years. As far as Kashmir issue is concerned, we have always been ready to resolve it with Pakistan. Not only Kashmir but also all other bilateral issues should be resolved in a peaceful manner," Baglay said.
He also said that the government has made many attempts to have bilateral talks with Pakistan to address issues, including Kashmir as per the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration.
Asked about the response of the Turkish side, Baglay said they heard it "care and attention".
India's discussion on Kashmir with Turkey came on a day when two Indian security personnel were beheaded by Pakistan army in Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, addressing a joint media event with Erdogan, Modi said countries across the world need to "work as one to disrupt the terrorist networks and their financing and put a stop to cross-border movement of terrorists", in an obvious reference to Pakistan-based terror groups.
Asked if there was a difference of opinion on the definition of terrorism as Modi talked about cross-border terrorists and Erdogan mentioned the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO), Baglay said there was a convergence on condemning terrorism and an agreement that it was a menace which needed to be tackled effectively.
The spokesperson also said the Turkish side mentioned the presence of FETO (in India). "Any organisation in India has to work within the parameters of our laws, rules and regulations," he added, without mentioning if India has assured action against the group.
During his statement, the Turkish president had referred to the FETO, saying the outfit is active in 170 countries. He said the Turkish government has informed the countries about FETO's operations and hoped India will take action against it.
After a failed coup in July last year to topple Erdogan, Turkey had blamed the FETO for it and said the outfit has "infiltrated" India. Turkey had also asked India to take action against the organisation.
"We will never bow down to terrorism or the propaganda of the terror outfits," Erdogan, who also invoked Mahatma Gandhi, said. He said terror outfits will never be able to "shackle our resolve" to combat the menace.
(With PTI inputs)
