India reminded Turkey that Kashmir remains a bilateral matter and firmly rejected all external interference claims

India-Turkey dispute: India on Friday reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir issue is entirely bilateral and requires no third-party intervention. This response came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made remarks on Kashmir at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Addressing the media, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Our position on the Kashmir issue is very clear and there has been no change. Any issue between India and Pakistan will be resolved bilaterally. There is no need for third-party mediation."

India-Pakistan ceasefire 

In fact, in his speech, Erdoğan expressed satisfaction with the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan and called for a “resolution of the Kashmir dispute through dialogue based on UN resolutions.” This stance reiterated his earlier support for Pakistan. India responded strongly to the statement, saying such offensive comments were unacceptable. Jaiswal said, "We completely reject such statements. This is a matter concerning India's internal sovereignty and territorial integrity. A strong protest has been lodged with the Turkish ambassador."

He added that the real problem in Jammu and Kashmir stems from Pakistan's policies. "It would have been better if Erdogan had questioned cross-border terrorism, which remains the biggest threat to the people of Kashmir," Jaiswal said.

Meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held several bilateral meetings during his diplomatic engagements in New York. He met with the Cypriot Foreign Minister and reiterated India's support for a comprehensive and lasting solution to the North Cyprus issue. In his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and strengthening partnerships on trade, energy, and critical minerals.

India's strong response comes at a time when relations between Ankara and Islamabad are deepening. According to reports, Pakistan recently used Turkish-made drones in anti-India operations. India has made it clear that Kashmir is an internal issue and that any external comment or interference on it is unacceptable.