Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan once again raised the Kashmir dispute during his presentation of the 2026 Foreign Ministry budget before the Planning and Budget Committee of the Turkish Parliament.
Fidan reiterated Ankara’s long-standing position—echoing Pakistan’s stance—that India must resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue with Pakistan and in accordance with international law.
His remarks follow President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s repeated references to Kashmir at every UN General Assembly session since 2019. Erdoğan has consistently urged India to address the disputed territory, calling attention to human rights violations against Muslims in the region.
Since coming to power in 2002, Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) have increasingly used global platforms to vocalize support for Kashmir, presenting Turkey as a defender of Muslim causes worldwide. Turkey has also expanded its diplomatic outreach and influence across Muslim-majority countries, often highlighting issues such as Kashmir, Palestine, and Islamophobia.
Ankara’s religious institution, Diyanet, has also been projecting Turkish narratives abroad, reinforcing Turkey’s visibility on global Muslim issues, including the Kashmir dispute.
Erdoğan’s continued spotlight on Kashmir reflects Turkey’s consistent diplomatic messaging against India’s policies in the UN-recognized disputed territory.
