At the United Nations General Assembly on 23 September 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again brought up the Kashmir dispute, calling for a resolution through dialogue between India and Pakistan, in line with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. He also delivered a harsh condemnation of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Referring to the thaw in India-Pakistan tensions earlier this year, Erdogan said, “We welcome the ceasefire reached after the April conflict between Pakistan and India. The Kashmir issue, for the sake of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters, should be resolved in accordance with UN resolutions, and through peaceful dialogue.”
Reaffirming Turkey’s consistent position, he added, “We support a peaceful solution to the Kashmir conflict based on the UNSC’s resolutions and the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”
India has frequently rejected such international commentary, maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir is a strictly internal matter. New Delhi has urged Ankara to refrain from interfering and to respect India’s sovereignty a message it reiterated earlier this year when Erdogan echoed similar sentiments during a visit to Pakistan.
Since 2019, Erdogan has routinely used his annual UNGA addresses to voice support for Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, positioning Turkey as a vocal ally. However, his most forceful criticisms were aimed at Israel and its military operations in Gaza. Erdogan described the situation in Gaza as an “ongoing genocide,” accusing Israel of mass displacement, targeted killings, and large-scale destruction.
“What’s happening in Gaza is genocide people are being killed as we speak,” he declared. “This is the time for the world to stand with the oppressed Palestinians and take a firm moral stance.”
He urged all countries that have not yet recognized Palestine as a state to do so “without hesitation,” and extended his gratitude to those that already have.
Erdogan also denounced Israel’s broader regional actions, condemning airstrikes in Syria, Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and even Qatar where, he claimed, a strike aimed at Hamas leadership had failed to reach its intended target.
Highlighting the civilian toll, he said, “In the past 23 months, Israel has taken the life of one child every hour in Gaza. These aren’t statistics they are innocent lives.”
(With inputs from India Today)
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