Erdogan Brings Up Kashmir At UN Again, Says Disputes Should Be Resolved Through Dialogue

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

“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,” Erdogan said while addressing the high-level 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

Erdogan made the remarks in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. His comments came weeks after Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, strengthening security cooperation between the three countries.

India has consistently rejected the internationalisation of Kashmir, maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. New Delhi has also said that issues between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally and peacefully, without third-party intervention, citing the 1972 Shimla Agreement.

Erdogan has repeatedly raised Kashmir at the UN in recent years. He spoke about the issue in 2019, after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370. India described his remarks at the time as unacceptable and said Turkey should respect the sovereignty of other nations.

He referred to Kashmir again in 2021, calling it a longstanding issue and advocating a solution reflecting what he described as the aspirations of Kashmiris. Erdogan did not mention Jammu and Kashmir in his 2024 UNGA address but returned to the issue in 2025, calling for a resolution based on UN resolutions and dialogue.

Beyond Kashmir, Erdogan's 2026 address included a strong criticism of the United Nations and its Security Council. He said the UN, established 81 years ago to maintain international peace and security, had become unable to fulfil that mission.

“Let's recognise that a system in which the will of more than 190 countries is subject to the whims of five countries is neither fair nor capable of fully establishing trust,” Erdogan said, referring to the five permanent members and their veto powers.

Erdogan also launched a sharp attack on Israel's military campaign in Gaza, calling for greater international pressure to end the war. During his remarks, Israeli delegates walked out of the UN General Assembly hall as he criticised Israel's actions.

“No one who holds humanity, compassion and mercy in their heart, with a sense of justice and conscience can turn a blind eye” to the situation in Gaza, Erdogan said.

He also highlighted the absence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from the UNGA for a second consecutive year and urged countries that have not recognised a Palestinian state to reconsider their positions. Erdogan said Turkey would continue to speak for Palestinians at the UN.