Turkish interference in Kashmir conflict infuriates India

CAIRO – 27 May 2017: Ahead of any international visits by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, there was tension and question marks over the Turkish interference in other countries’ internal affairs. Early this month, Erdogan made an important visit to India following severe tension over statements the Turkish president made about the Kashmir conflict.

Erdogan traveled to India on April 30 in a first official visit at the presidential level in seven years. He departed to India’s capital for a two-day visit to attend the India-Turkey Business Summit.

Ahead of his arrival to New Delhi, Erdoğan suggested a "multi-lateral dialogue" on Kashmir, offering to mediate between India and Pakistan; a motion that was rejected by India.

India has categorically rejected Turkey’s intervention, while Pakistan, on the other hand, welcomed Erdoğan’s offer.

India used a high-level summit with Turkey to deliver a comeback to the widely publicized remarks Erdoğan had made just before his visit.

Briefing the media, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, "India's stand is clear, that undivided Kashmir is an integral part of India. We don't want to get into what statements were made before the visit. We discussed our position in detail and India's stand on Kashmir and that there can be no justification to terrorism."

In the interview to WION TV channel, recorded in Ankara ahead of his trip, Erdoğan also repeated Turkey’s stand that he was in favor of both India and Pakistan being included in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

India has been arguing that it cannot be equated with Pakistan, which has a proven track record of nuclear proliferation, and Erdogan suggested New Delhi should give up this “attitude.”

The Indian side expressed displeasure at Turkey’s participation in infrastructure projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

According to

Quartz India

, Erdogan’s activism, evident from his statement calling for mediation through his good offices, resembled a position he had taken on Syria, one that alienated the Assad regime.

India was looking at the visit not only for its economic potential but also for support for its membership of the NSG of which Turkey is a member and had earlier supported India’s membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR).

In the end it was not to be. Turkey said that it would like to see both India and Pakistan in the NSG, thereby aligning Turkey’s position with China’s. There being no support for Pakistan, it was a negative in different words.

The website further added that in recognition of the unpredictability of the outcome, India had triangulated the Erdogan visit by inviting the Cyprus president to New Delhi a few days prior. Cyprus has been a steadfast supporter of India on Kashmir and is also an NSG member. Furthermore, vice-president Hamid Ansari made a state visit to Armenia earlier, visiting the Armenian genocide museum.

During the India-Turkey Business Summit, Erdoğan said Turkey is determined to enhance relations with India and will take measures to ensure this.

Erdoğan and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi resolved to expand trade ties and agreed to boost business efforts to achieve at least $10 billion by 2020 in bilateral trade.