Turkey and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have come under fire from India for bringing up the Jammu and Kashmir problem. Seema Pujana, India’s representative at the UN, reprimanded and urged Turkey to stop commenting on domestic issues without permission. Turkey’s remarks on Kashmir were made shortly after India began “Operation Dost” to aid the country affected by the disaster.
The Kashmir Conflict
In a statement to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), India criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his comments on Kashmir, calling it completely unacceptable and excessive interference in India’s domestic affairs.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti, said on Twitter hours after Erdogan raised the Kashmir problem at the UNGA that Istanbul should develop an understanding of respecting others’ sovereignty.
He stated on Twitter that comments made by the Turkish President on the Indian UT of Jammu and Kashmir were seen by the government and that those were entirely inappropriate and amounted to blatant interference in India’s domestic affairs. Further, he said that Turkey needs to deepen its reflection on its policies and learn to appreciate the sovereignty of other countries.
The Kashmir conflict, which is also crucial to the peace and security of South Asia, is still a burning problem, according to the Turkish President on day two of the high-level UNGA.
Turkey, a partner of Pakistan, has raised the Jammu and Kashmir problem on various platforms over the past year. However, India continues to reiterate its stand to the west Asian nation that the problem in Kashmir is a national matter for India.
At the 46th session of the Human Rights Council last week, India criticized Pakistan, Turkey, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for their comments regarding Indian internal matters.
What is ‘Operation Dost’?
The Government of India launched “Operation Dost,” a humanitarian search and rescue operation, to aid Syria and Turkey after they experienced a powerful earthquake that left thousands killed, wounded, and entrapped under the debris. Three truckloads of relief supplies, including life-saving emergency medications and protective gear, were organized at Hindon Airbase within 12 hours of two powerful earthquakes striking Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023. On February 7, 2023, trucks began to arrive at 10:00 am, and by 4:00 pm, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had obtained the rescue supplies. The last truckload arrived by 9:30 p.m., and the aircraft carrying emergency supplies left for Syria at 10:00 p.m. on the same day.
