City
Epaper

Turkey's President raises Kashmir issue at UNGA

By IANS | Updated: September 24, 2019 21:55 IST

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the Kashmir issue at the high-level General Assembly session on Tuesday, calling for a dialogue to resolve the problem on the "basis of justice and equality".

Open in App

He said that the area is "besieged" with "8 million people stuck" there, but did not refer to the ending of Kashmir's special constitutional status under Article 370.

Erdogan, who is positioning himself as an alternative global Muslim leader to Saudi Arabia, is the first leader other than a Pakistani in recent memory to speak about Kashmir at the Assembly.

So far no other country has echoed Pakistan's constant refrain about Kashmir at the UNGA.

Erdogan appeared to support an independent Kashmir by talking of Kashmiri people having a future with "their Pakistani and Indian neighbours".

"In order for the Kashmiri people to look forward to a safe future with their Pakistani and Indian neighbours, it is imperative to solve this problem through dialogue on the basis of justice, and equality instead of conflict."

Kashmir has been an open issue for 72 years, he said.

"The stability and prosperity of South Asia cannot be separated from the Kashmir issue," he said.

"Despite the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council, Kashmir is still besieged and 8 million people are still stuck in Kashmir. They cannot get out," Erdogan added.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: kashmirpakistanErdoganassemblyUnga
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalPahalgam Terror Attack: Amit Shah Directs States to Identify and Deport Pakistani Nationals

NationalPakistan Fires Small Arms Along LoC, Indian Army Retaliates Effectively

NationalPakistan Shuts Border, Suspends Shimla Agreement, Trade and Airspace for Indian Airlines

NationalIndian Citizens With Valid Visas Denied Entry Into Pakistan at Attari-Wagah Border; Video Goes Viral

NationalWill Seema Haider Be Deported After India Orders Pakistani Nationals to Leave?

National Realted Stories

NationalPM Modi to distribute over 51,000 appointment letters at 15th Rozgar Mela today

NationalJammu and Kashmir: Two Terrorist Associates Nabbed from Thokerpora, Kulgam

NationalDelhi Stabbing Incident: Man Stabbed to Death in Bhajanpura's Subhash Mohalla, Murder Probe Underway

NationalResidences of LeT commanders, Pahalgam attack suspects demolished across Kashmir

NationalKarnataka BJP MLA's 'violent' remarks against Robert Vadra trigger row