'Turkey ready to play its part': Erdogan needles India after talking Kashmir with Shehbaz

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has once again waded into the Kashmir dispute, reiterating Ankara's interest in playing a mediatory role between India and Pakistan. After his talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Erdogan said both leaders discussed the Kashmir issue at length and “explored ways to assist.”

“Balanced policies can bring the parties closer to a solution and help prevent renewed escalation,” he noted, suggesting India and Pakistan to return to the negotiating table.

This comes even as India has time and again reiterated its stand on Kashmir, saying that the only issues on which talks with Pakistan will take place are terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Significantly, Erdogan called for a "human rights-based resolution" to the issue, under the involvement of international organisations. “As Turkey, we hope for a resolution that respects human rights and involves constructive engagement from international bodies,” he said.

He also reiterated his country’s willingness to play a role in facilitating dialogue. “If requested, Turkey is ready to play its part. We want peace,” Erdogan added.

This is not the first time the Turkish president has made public remarks on Kashmir, often prompting strong reactions from New Delhi. India has consistently maintained that Kashmir is an internal matter and has rejected third-party mediation, including past offers by countries like the United States and Turkey.

Erdogan has often aligned himself with Pakistan’s position on Kashmir, raising the issue at global forums, including the United Nations General Assembly. His recent statements are likely to be seen in New Delhi as yet another instance of Ankara taking a position that undermines India's sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir.

This is not the first time the Turkish president has made public remarks on Kashmir, often prompting strong reactions from New Delhi. India has consistently maintained that Kashmir is an internal matter and has rejected third-party mediation, including past offers by countries like the United States and Turkey.

India-Turkey ties have been strained over this very issue. New Delhi has, in the past, conveyed its concerns to Ankara through diplomatic channels, stressing that any discussion on Kashmir must take place bilaterally between India and Pakistan, as per the Simla Agreement.

There are growing calls for boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan for their support to Pakistan, following the Pahalgam terror attack and their criticism of Indian Armed Forces' Operation Sindoor.