'Unwarranted references, no locus standi': India rejects Erdogan's Kashmir remarks

Responding to questions during a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described Erdogan’s remarks as “unwarranted references” to the Union Territory.

“You would have seen that these remarks you refer to were made by the Turkish President. India rejects the unwarranted references to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir made by the President of Turkey during his UNGA address. This is a matter, as you would understand, pertaining to India's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and no external party has any locus standi on this issue,” Jaiswal said.

Erdogan had raised the Kashmir issue during his address to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, calling for disputes in South Asia, including Kashmir, to be addressed through dialogue within the framework of the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.

India’s Stand On Kashmir

Erdogan has raised the issue at the UN General Assembly in previous years as well, prompting similar responses from New Delhi.

In September 2025, Jaiswal reiterated India's position after Erdogan again referred to Kashmir at the UNGA.

“Our statement on Kashmir is clear. Everyone is aware of our position on Kashmir over the past few years,” Jaiswal had said at the time, while ruling out a third-party role or mediation.

India has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and has opposed outside involvement in the matter.

India Also Rejects OIC References

The latest exchange comes days after India rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint communiqué issued by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

The MEA described those references as “unwarranted and factually incorrect” and said the OIC had no locus standi to comment on matters that India considers internal.

“India categorically rejects the unwarranted and factually incorrect references to India in the Joint Communique of the so-called OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. The OIC has no locus standi to pronounce on matters that are strictly internal to India,” the MEA had said.

The ministry also reiterated that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are “integral and inalienable” parts of India, adding that “no amount of repetition of politically motivated propaganda can change this reality”.

The OIC Contact Group met on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly session in New York. The group includes Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Niger.