In what can only be considered a pushback against Turkey and its stance on the Kashmir issue, India said it was "deeply concerned" over the "unilateral military offensive" by Turkey in northeastern Syria and asserted that the action can undermine stability in the region as well as the fight against terrorism.
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Reacting to the development, Ministry of External Affairs said: "We are deeply concerned at the unilateral military offensive by Turkey in northeast Syria." Turkey's actions can undermine stability in the region and the fight against terrorism, it said. The action also has the potential for causing humanitarian and civilian distress, the MEA said in a statement.
"We call upon Turkey to exercise restraint and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. We urge the peaceful settlement of all issues through dialogue and discussion," the MEA said.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the Kashmir issue during his address at the United Nations, saying it is imperative to solve the problem through "dialogue on the basis of justice, equity, and not through collision". Turkey came out in support of Pakistan after India revoked Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.
In his speech before at the UN General Assembly, Erdogan said the stability and prosperity of South Asia cannot he separated from the Kashmir issue. "One of the problems to which the international community still does not devote enough attention is the Kashmir conflict, which awaits a solution for 72 years," he said in his address to the general debate on Tuesday.
Earlier, Prime Minister Khan had met President Erdogan on the sidelines and discussed with him bilateral relations and the latest situation since India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Post the move by Turkey, India had reiterated support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey occupies and maintains a military presence in 'Northern Cyprus'. The relations between the two countries had worsened under Erdogan. Anastasiades speaking from UNGA said, according to WION, "Turkey threatens Cyprus that there will be severe consequences if we proceed ahead with our energy programme... it threatens neighbouring states and energy companies, with which we are cooperating and have established conventional obligations".
-Inputs from PTI
