Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Why Erdogan Repeats Kashmir Calls at the UN Assembly
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, talks about Kashmir at the United Nations almost every year.
He says India and Pakistan should solve the dispute through dialogue and UN rules.
The article says he also discusses Kashmir during meetings with Pakistan.
India has objected to some of his earlier statements.
One 2019 statement came after India removed special constitutional provisions for Jammu and Kashmir.
The article argues that Erdogan’s speeches appeal to his conservative supporters in Turkey.
It also says he wants Turkey to be seen as a strong defender of Muslim causes.
Turkey’s relationship with Pakistan is another reason it supports Pakistan’s position on Kashmir.
This has created continuing diplomatic tension between Turkey and India.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again called for Kashmir and other regional disputes to be resolved under the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.
The article says Erdogan’s Kashmir references recur mainly at annual UN General Assembly meetings and during engagements with Pakistan.
His 2019 comments after India revoked Article 370 prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel a planned Ankara visit and reduce defence ties, according to the article.
Erdogan’s statements have described Kashmir as a long-running dispute and called for dialogue between India and Pakistan reflecting Kashmiris’ aspirations.
The article links Turkey’s position to domestic political messaging, competition for Islamic leadership, and its strategic alliance and defence relationship with Pakistan.
- Who
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with India, Pakistan, and Turkey central to the dispute.
- What
- Erdogan again raised Kashmir at the United Nations and called for regional disputes to be resolved under the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.
- When
- At the 81st United Nations General Assembly session on Tuesday; the article also describes similar statements from 2019 onward.
- Where
- At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as well as during bilateral and parliamentary engagements in Pakistan.
- Why
- The article attributes Erdogan’s position to domestic political messaging, Turkey’s competition for Islamic leadership, and its strategic alliance with Pakistan.
Turkey and Pakistan’s Position
India’s Position
How Kashmir should be addressed
Turkey and Pakistan’s Position
Erdogan calls for Kashmir to be resolved through dialogue, the UN Charter, and relevant UN resolutions, while reflecting the aspirations of Kashmiris.
India’s Position
India has formally protested Erdogan’s statements and responded diplomatically, including by canceling a planned Ankara visit and scaling back defence ties after his 2019 remarks.
Meaning of Erdogan’s repeated statements
Turkey and Pakistan’s Position
Turkey presents its position as support for an unresolved regional dispute and for Muslim communities, alongside its diplomatic relationship with Pakistan.
India’s Position
The article portrays the statements as a recurring source of diplomatic strain and argues that they also serve Erdogan’s domestic political and geopolitical objectives.
- Speaker
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey
- Latest position
- Kashmir and other regional disputes should be addressed under the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.
- Recurring venue
- Annual United Nations General Assembly sessions
- Key year
- 2019, when Erdogan made stronger comments after India revoked Article 370
- India’s response
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly canceled a planned Ankara visit, and defence ties were scaled back.
- Pakistan relationship
- The article links Turkey’s Kashmir position to strategic cooperation and defence exports involving Pakistan.
- Regional rivalry
- The article presents Erdogan’s stance as challenging the influence of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over Islamic diplomacy.