India rejects Erdogan's Kashmir statement: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday rejected Turkiye President Erdogan’s recent comments over Kashmir, calling it "objectionable." MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing the weekly media presser, said that India has lodged a strong protest with the Turkish ambassador. Jaiswal underscored that such "unwarranted statements" concerning India's territorial integrity and sovereignty are "unacceptable."
While emphasising that Jammu and Kashmir are integral parts of India, the MEA spokesperson said, "It would have been better if Pakistan's policy of using cross-border terrorism against India, which remains the biggest threat to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, had been called out."
What did Erdogan say on Kashmir?
Earlier, Erdogan, who was on a two-day visit to Pakistan, suggested that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue between India and Pakistan "with due consideration for the aspirations of the Kashmiri people".
The Kashmir issue should be addressed according to the UN resolution through dialogue and keeping in mind the aspirations of the people of Kashmir,” Erdogan said. “Our state and our nation, as in the past, stands in solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers today,” he added.
What has been India's stand on Kashmir?
India has repeatedly emphasised that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are, and "shall forever" remain an integral part of the country. The ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the State into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.
In his statement, President Erdogan also showed keen interest in promoting ties with Pakistan. “In the seventh session of our council, which we just concluded, we have agreed to further strengthen our relationship,” he said.
In the 7th Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, the two countries agreed to continue their efforts to achieve the goal of a USD 5 billion trade volume. At its conclusion, the two leaders signed a joint declaration to further deepen, diversify and institutionalise their Strategic Partnership.
(With inputs from PTI)
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