The Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson has rejected references and remarks made by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Kashmir during his visit to Islamabad last week.
In an address to a joint session of the Pakistani Parliament, Erdogan reiterated his country's support to Pakistan on all matters of Kashmir, comparing the Kashmiri struggle with the Ottoman Empire's fight against foreign powers during World War I that culminated in the Gallipoli campaign. Blaming the suffering of the Kashmiri people on the "unilateral steps" taken by the Indian government in recent months, he invoked the brotherhood law of Islam, which requires sharing and supporting fellow believers in their agitations.
"Today, the issue of Kashmir is as close to us as it is to you," Erdogan said, adding, "like in the past, we will continue to support Pakistan in the future." Similar references were also made in a joint declaration of the Pakistan-Turkey High-level Strategic Cooperation Council, which irked India further, eliciting a strong reaction by Indian authorities.
In response, New Delhi on Saturday stated that Turkey should "develop a proper understanding of the facts" and stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. Calling Kashmir "an integral and inalienable part of India," the Indian spokesperson urged Ankara to pay attention to the "grave threat posed by terrorism emanating from Pakistan to India and the region."
On his two day visit, President Erdogan also pledged Turkey's support to Pakistan in the upcoming plenary meeting of the money-laundering watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to help it avoid being 'blacklisted.'
Image Source: Anadolu Agency