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A contentious message, alleging that Turkey of betraying India and supporting Pakistan over the issue of ‘Jammu and Kashmir’ after India extended humanitarian aide following the devastating earthquake has been doing the rounds of the internet.
“Breaking! Turkey supports Pakistan on #Kashmir. Says ‘India has been doing Human riot violations in Kashmir. India carried out Project Dost & sent NDRF team, relief material to Turkey. But in return Turkey betrayed India & supported Pak in UNHRC. Muslim Ummah wins, Modi failed,” a viral WhatsApp message read.
Screengrab of the presumably fake/misleading WhatsApp message
And while Turkey has indeed taken stand for Pakistan over Kashmir issue, the above message is misleading.
The Statement of Turkey In UNHRC
Turkey also expressed its commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, the disputed Palestinian State and Crimea. It called upon the nations to protect Afghanistan, migrants and refugees in Syria and the Mediterranean.
Having said that, Bozay did not make any reference to Jammu and Kashmir in his address. The remarks of the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey are reproduced in their entirety below:
MEHMET KEMAL BOZAY, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, said the Turkish nation mourned its losses following the largest natural disaster of this century; 40,000 lives had been lost and 100,000 people injured. Türkiye expressed deep gratitude for the profound international solidarity received, which reconfirmed that the international community should adopt a “one humanity one world” approach in tackling problems. Türkiye would continue to engage with the Human Rights Council for the protection and promotion of human rights for all, and was committed to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, including Crimea, and to a just peace.
Pushbacks and systemic violations of rights of migrants and refugees continued to cause major concern as well. States should not let desperate human beings die neither in Mediterranean nor at their borders. In Syria, Türkiye was trying to revitalise the political process, enable safe returns, and eliminate terrorist threats. The international community should not allow the situation in Afghanistan to deteriorate further. The establishment of a sovereign Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital, was the only way for a just peace. In Libya, free elections under United Nations’ guidance were key to stability and peace. The situation of the Turkish Cypriot people should be addressed by the Council.
The Bone of Contention And India’s Right of Reply
Its Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha reportedly referred to “developments in Afghanistan, the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the situation of the Rohingya Muslim community and the damage to the cultural and religious heritage in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.”
While fake news peddlers on Whatsapp are suggesting that Turkey backstabbed India despite his help, the statement of Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister at UNHRC says otherwise. He only mentioned Jammu and Kashmir in his speech, saying that the matter should be resolved as per the UNSC resolution on it.
Despite differences on multiple issues with Turkey, India carried out its humanitarian obligation as a true leader. OIC’s unsolicited remarks and India’s stern response cannot be seen as a failure of PM Modi for extending the olive branch.
Turkey Stood By Pakistan Over Kashmir Issue In The Past
To conclude, India called out Turkey’s interference and extending support to Pakistan in Kashmir matter. Turkey had raked up Kashmir issue in the past, not at UNHRC recently after the earthquake after India extended humanitarian aide to Turkey. The two are separate incidents and mixed up to further a misleading narrative. While the minister did mention Jammu and Kashmir in his speech, he didn’t accuse India of human rights violations in the region, as the viral messages are claiming.
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