India-Turkey Relation / This Muslim country kept supporting PAK on Kashmir issue, this time it made India happy

India-Turkey Relation: Turkey has moved in a new direction, abandoning its old rant on Kashmir. This is the first time that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not mention Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Normally, Erdogan used to raise the Kashmir issue in his address every year, but this time his silence is being seen as a diplomatic victory for India.

Latest developments

After India revoked Article 370 in 2019, Erdogan had repeatedly criticized India's policy on the Kashmir issue. He also supported the Pakistani view on the status of Kashmir at the UNGA. But this time, he did not say a word on the subject during his speech at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York. Instead, he expressed his desire to develop relations with BRICS, which brings together emerging economies.

Erdogan's record over the years

In the past five years, Erdogan has been the first head of state to talk about the Kashmir issue, except for Pakistan. In September 2019, he said that the two countries should resolve the dispute through dialogue. In 2020, he stressed the need for a solution to Kashmir, calling it the key to peace in South Asia. In 2021 and 2022 too, he expressed concern over the situation in Kashmir and called for dialogue between the two sides.

Change in Turkey's policies

Erdogan's silence and decision not to comment on Kashmir indicates that Turkey is now trying to take a more balanced and prudent approach to the Kashmir issue. This change has come at a time when Turkey is trying to become a part of BRICS. In this context, Erdogan's plan to attend the summit in Kazan, Russia is an indication that Turkey is taking a new direction in its foreign policy.

Conclusion

This new policy of Turkey can be seen as a significant diplomatic success for India. It makes it clear that Turkey's activism on the Kashmir issue on international forums has decreased. Erdogan's silence may be an indication that Turkey is keen to strengthen its relations with India, especially when it is trying to join international groups like BRICS. This change may strengthen the possibility of improvement in India-Turkey relations in the future.