No external role in Kashmir: MEA

India has rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reference to Kashmir during his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), asserting that the issue concerns the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and leaves no role for external parties.

Responding to questions about Erdogan’s remarks at a press briefing on Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had taken note of the Turkish president’s comments but rejected what New Delhi described as unwarranted references to India and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

“This is a matter pertaining to India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and no external party has any locus standi on this issue,” Jaiswal said.

Erdogan had raised the Kashmir issue during his UNGA address on September 22, calling for disputes in South Asia to be resolved through dialogue and within the framework of the United Nations Charter and relevant resolutions.

“In South Asia, it is important that all disputes, including the Kashmir issue, be addressed through dialogue within the framework of the United Nations Charter and of relevant resolutions,” Erdogan said.

Turkey has previously raised the Kashmir issue at international forums, despite India’s longstanding position that the matter should not be subject to third-party intervention.

New Delhi has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that any issues concerning Kashmir with Pakistan should be addressed bilaterally.

India’s position was reiterated following the Pahalgam terror attack, with the Government stating that any future engagement with Pakistan on Kashmir-related matters would remain bilateral.

Turkey’s position on Kashmir has emerged as a recurring point of diplomatic friction between New Delhi and Ankara, particularly as Turkey has maintained close strategic ties with Pakistan.

The issue has also featured against the backdrop of expanding security cooperation among Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The three countries signed what has been described as the “Mecca Pact” in August, establishing a framework for closer defence and security cooperation.

India, meanwhile, has continued to oppose internationalisation of the Kashmir issue and has maintained that questions concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity are matters for India to address in accordance with its established bilateral position with Pakistan.