India Rejects Erdogan’s Kashmir Reference at UNGA, Says No External Party Has Role

MEA reiterates India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir after Turkish President calls for dialogue on South Asian disputes

New Delhi, September 29, 2026 (SDNA). India has firmly rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reference to Jammu and Kashmir during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, reiterating that matters concerning India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty do not provide a role for any external party.

Responding to questions about Erdogan’s remarks at a media briefing on Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India rejected what he described as “unwarranted references” to India and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jaiswal said the issue concerns India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and maintained that no external party has a locus standi in the matter.

What Erdogan said at the UN

Erdogan had referred to Kashmir during his September 22 address to the UN General Assembly in New York. He said that disputes in South Asia, including the Kashmir issue, should be addressed through dialogue within the framework of the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.

The Turkish president has referred to Kashmir in previous UN General Assembly speeches as well, although the wording and emphasis have varied over the years.

New Delhi reiterates its established position

India has consistently opposed attempts by outside countries to intervene or mediate on Jammu and Kashmir. The latest response from the Ministry of External Affairs again places the issue within the framework of India’s stated position on sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The government’s response also comes amid continued diplomatic exchanges over regional security and cross-border terrorism, which India has repeatedly identified as a major concern in its foreign-policy messaging.

Why the statement matters

Erdogan’s remarks at the UN reflect Türkiye’s continuing interest in raising Kashmir in international forums, while India’s response underlines New Delhi’s longstanding position that the issue is directly connected with its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The contrasting positions highlight the differing approaches taken by the two countries on how the Kashmir issue should be discussed at international platforms.

For now, the immediate diplomatic exchange remains focused on the statements made at the UN General Assembly and India’s formal response through the Ministry of External Affairs.

(SDNA)