New York, Sept 23: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly, calling for disputes in South Asia, including Kashmir, to be addressed through dialogue within the framework of the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.

Addressing the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Erdogan said dialogue was important in addressing disputes in the region.

“In South Asia, it is important that all disputes, including the Kashmir issue, be addressed through dialogue within the framework of the United Nations Charter and of relevant resolutions,” he said.

Erdogan’s remarks came in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and marked another instance of the Turkish president referring to Kashmir at the UN platform.

India rejects third-party involvement

India has consistently opposed references to Kashmir by third countries, maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that outstanding issues with Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally.

New Delhi has also cited the 1972 Shimla Agreement, under which India and Pakistan committed themselves to resolving differences through peaceful means and bilateral negotiations.

Erdogan had raised Kashmir during his UNGA address in 2025 as well, prompting India to reiterate its position that the issue does not require third-party mediation.

The Turkish president has previously spoken about Kashmir at the UN, including in 2019 after India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. He also referred to the issue in 2021. Kashmir was not mentioned in his 2024 UNGA address.

Turkey-Pakistan ties

Erdogan’s latest remarks come amid increasingly close ties between Turkey and Pakistan.

Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, committing the three countries to closer security cooperation.

Relations between New Delhi and Ankara have also faced strains in recent years, particularly following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military escalation between India and Pakistan.

During the crisis, Erdogan expressed solidarity with Pakistan and called for de-escalation.

Gaza and UN reforms

Kashmir was one among several international issues raised by Erdogan during his UNGA address.

The Turkish president also called for reforms to the UN Security Council, arguing for a more representative international system, and urged stronger international action over the Gaza conflict.

He also backed broader international recognition of a Palestinian state.

Erdogan’s latest Kashmir remarks are likely to draw renewed attention in New Delhi, which has consistently maintained that the issue should be addressed through bilateral channels rather than international mediation.