Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not mention Kashmir in his annual address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the first time in years, breaking from a tradition he has maintained since 2019.
This marked a significant departure from his usual stance, where he has consistently raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly after India abrogated Article 370 and removed the special status of the region.
His comments were seen as unwarranted interference in India’s internal matters, and New Delhi repeatedly dismissed them as such. Since 2019, Erdogan has used his UNGA platform to criticise India’s policy in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that peace, prosperity, and stability were lacking in the Valley.
This year, however, speaking at the UNGA in New York on Tuesday, Erdogan focused primarily on the Israel-Gaza conflict, sharply criticising the UN for what he described as turning the Palestinian territory into the “world’s largest cemetery.” His decision to avoid mentioning Kashmir was notable, though the reasons were not clear. India’s global standing might have influenced Erdogan’s choice.
Erdogan’s softened stance on Kashmir could be a diplomatic move to foster better relations with India. In 2019, shortly after India’s decision to revoke Article 370, Erdogan had stated at the UNGA, “In order for the Kashmiri people to look at a safe future together with their Pakistani and Indian neighbours, it is imperative to solve the problem through dialogue and on the basis of justice and equity, not through clashes.”