Fact Check: Did Turkey lengthen assist to Pakistan over Kashmir concern at UNHRC after post-earthquake Operation Dost

A contentious message, alleging that Turkey of betraying India and supporting Pakistan over the problem of ‘Jammu and Kashmir’ after India prolonged humanitarian aide following the devastating earthquake has been doing the rounds of the web.

“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 learn.

Screengrab of the deceptive Whatsapp message

And whereas Turkey has certainly taken stand for Pakistan over Kashmir concern, the above message is deceptive.

The Statement of Turkey in UNHRC

Turkey has supported Pakistan prior to now and even engaged in anti-India propaganda by internationalising the ‘Kashmir issue’. However, the transcontinental nation has not made any such remark within the aftermath of the devastating earthquake on the UNHRC.

On February 27 this 12 months, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, spoke on the United Nations Human Rights Council and thanked the world for his or her continued assist of the nation on the time of disaster.

Turkey additionally expressed its dedication to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, the disputed Palestinian State and Crimea. It referred to as upon the nations to guard Afghanistan, migrants and refugees in Syria and the Mediterranean.

Having mentioned that, Bozay didn’t make any reference to Jammu and Kashmir in his handle. The remarks of the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey are reproduced of their entirety beneath:

MEHMET KEMAL BOZAY, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, mentioned the Turkish nation mourned its losses following the most important pure catastrophe of this century; 40,000 lives had been misplaced and 100,000 individuals injured. Türkiye expressed deep gratitude for the profound worldwide solidarity obtained, which reconfirmed that the worldwide neighborhood ought to undertake a “one humanity one world” strategy in tackling issues. Türkiye would proceed to have interaction with the Human Rights Council for the safety and promotion of human rights for all, and was dedicated to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, together with Crimea, and to a simply peace.

Pushbacks and systemic violations of rights of migrants and refugees continued to trigger main concern as effectively. States shouldn’t let determined human beings die neither in Mediterranean nor at their borders. In Syria, Türkiye was making an attempt to revitalise the political course of, allow secure returns, and remove terrorist threats. The worldwide neighborhood shouldn’t permit the state of affairs in Afghanistan to deteriorate additional. The institution of a sovereign Palestinian State primarily based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem because the capital, was the one approach for a simply peace. In Libya, free elections underneath United Nations’ steerage have been key to stability and peace. The state of affairs of the Turkish Cypriot individuals needs to be addressed by the Council.

The Bone of Contention and India’s Right of Reply

On Thursday (March 2), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) raked up the Kashmir concern on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

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.”

India was miffed with the vicious try of OIC, which had been prodded to make remarks on Kashmir by Turkey and Pakistan prior to now. It should be talked about that each Turkey and Pakistan are member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation since 1969.

To make the state of affairs worse, Pakistan used the platform of UNHRC to hawk malicious propaganda in opposition to India. As such, on Saturday (March 4), India used its ‘Right of Reply’ and slammed the neighbouring nation for its sinister agenda.

India additionally made references to Turkey within the context of the OIC’s assertion and requested the transcontinental nation to chorus from interfering in India’s inside affairs. India was on the forefront of the evacuation mission underneath ‘Operation Dost’ after a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and claimed over 40,000 lives.

While pretend information peddlers on Whatsapp are suggesting that Turkey backstabbed India regardless of his assist, the assertion of Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister at UNHRC says in any other case.

Despite variations on a number of points with Turkey, India carried out its humanitarian obligation as a real chief. OIC’s unsolicited remarks and India’s stern response can’t be seen as a failure of PM Modi for extending the olive department.

Turkey stood by Pakistan over Kashmir concern prior to now

Having mentioned that, Turkey has certainly tried to meddle in India’s inside affairs prior to now. In February 2020, whereas addressing a joint session of Pakistan’s Parliament, Erdogan voiced his assist to Pakistan on its stand on Kashmir, claiming that the problem of Kashmir can’t be solved by way of oppression or battle however by way of justice and equity. The Turkish President’s remarks had come 7 months after the revocation of Article 370 and Article 35A that had given a separate standing to Jammu and Kashmir.

Prior to that, in UN General Assembly in October 2019, Recep Tayyip Erdogan had made a strident speech, supporting Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir whereas exhorting the world to deal with a problem that has not obtained ample consideration from the worldwide neighborhood.

India had sharply reacted to Erdogan’s assertion within the UN meeting, and expressed “deep regret” over Turkish president’s remarks and categorically requested it to chorus from making statements on India’s “internal matters”. Turkey is among the many only a few international locations which have been supporting Pakistan on the Kashmir concern, whereas most different nations agree with India’s stand within the matter.

To conclude, India referred to as out Turkey’s interference and lengthening assist to Pakistan in Kashmir matter. Turkey had raked up Kashmir concern prior to now, not at UNHRC just lately after the earthquake after India prolonged humanitarian aide to Turkey. The two are separate incidents and blended as much as additional a deceptive narrative.