India asks Turkish envoy over Erdogan’s remarks

India asked the Turkish ambassador on Monday to lodge a diplomatic protest over President Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks on the disputed region of Kashmir and warned it would have an impact on bilateral relations.

According to the details, During a visit to Pakistan last week, Erdogan said the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) was worsening because of sweeping changes New Delhi introduced in the Muslim-majority territory and that Turkey stood in solidarity with the people of Kashmir, reported British wire service.

India, which considers all of Kashmir an integral part of the country, told Turkish envoy Sakir Ozkan Torunlar that Erdogan’s comments lacked any understanding of the history of the Kashmir dispute, the Indian foreign ministry said.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “This recent episode is but one more example of a pattern of Turkey interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. India finds that completely unacceptable.”

The MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the démarche – a diplomatic move which usually in the form of a letter – was made by Secretary Vikas Swarup to the Ambassador of Turkey to India, Şakir Özkan Torunlar on Monday.

He said that the “strong démarche” delivered to the Turkish envoy was chiefly about Erdoğan’s remarks. “These remarks reflect neither an understanding of history nor of the conduct of diplomacy. They distort events of the past to advance a narrow-minded view of the present,” said Kumar.

On the other hand, India blames Pakistan for stoking the revolt in the territory in which tens of thousands of people have been killed. “These developments have strong implications for our bilateral relations,” the foreign ministry spokesman said, referring to Erdogan’s comments.

Prosperity of Asia cannot be separated from the Kashmir issue: Erdogan

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed a joint press conference in Islamabad.

According to the details, the press conference held after the two countries signed memorandums of understandings (MoUs) for cooperation in various areas.

During the press conference Prime Minister Imran felicitated President of Turkey Erdogan for speaking up to raise the Kashmir issue.

Prime Minister Imran said that Turkey had supported Pakistan on the issue of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as well besides Kashmir.