NEW DELHI: India strongly rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, calling them “objectionable” and clarifying that the issue is strictly bilateral and does not require outside participation.The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that New Delhi’s approach has not changed.”Our stand on the Kashmir issue is very clear, there has been no change in it. As far as mediation is concerned, there too, there is no need for any third party to mediate on the bilateral issues between India and Pakistan,” Jaiswal said.These remarks came after Erdogan raised the Kashmir issue during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he said that Turkey was “pleased” with the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan.The Turkish president had also urged the dispute to be resolved “on the basis of UN resolutions” through dialogue. His statement was similar to previous support for Pakistan, including during an earlier visit to Islamabad, which India had sharply criticised.Jaiswal described Erdogan’s comments as “objectionable” and said India had lodged a strong protest with the Turkish ambassador. “Such unwarranted statements on India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are unacceptable,” he added. The minister also pointed out that the root of the problem in Jammu and Kashmir is Pakistan’s actions. “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.” Separately, Jaiswal noted that EAM S Jaishankar recently met his Cypriot counterpart, reaffirming India’s support for a “comprehensive and lasting settlement” in North Cyprus based on the UN framework.On the sidelines of UNGA in New York, Jaishankar also met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They discussed strengthening India-US relations, promoting a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific under the Quad, and cooperation on trade, energy, and critical minerals.India’s firm response comes amid growing ties between Ankara and Islamabad, including reports that Turkish-made drones were used by Pakistani forces during India’s counter-terror Operation Sindoor.
