Onlykashmir.in News Desk
India has firmly rejected the references to Jammu and Kashmir made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, terming them unwarranted and reiterating that the subject lies entirely within its sovereign domain. Briefing the media in New Delhi on Tuesday, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the matter pertains to India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and that no external party has any locus standi on the issue.
The response follows New Delhi’s long-standing position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country, and that commentary on the Union Territory at multilateral forums draws a swift and unambiguous rebuttal. The Ministry’s language leaves little room for ambiguity, even as the briefing ranged across a wide sweep of foreign policy questions.
On the IBSA statement, Jaiswal noted that the foreign ministers of India, Brazil and South Africa met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, after which the three countries issued a joint statement capturing their collective view. He said the document reflects a range of economic, development and certain political issues. Asked about Palestine, he said India stands for a two-state solution.
Responding to questions on External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s comments on cross-border terrorism, the spokesperson said the Minister had underlined that the menace is a major cause of concern and that countries must come together to fight it.
On the issue of a 100 per cent tariff by the United States, Jaiswal said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently met a US Congressional delegation in New Delhi, where bilateral matters were discussed. During the meeting, the Foreign Secretary conveyed India’s concerns over the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, known as SIRA, and the implications it could carry for the bilateral relationship as well as the international energy market.
Turning to Indian shipping in the Persian Gulf, the spokesperson said six India-flagged commercial vessels are currently in the area, while six foreign-flagged vessels are carrying cargo to India. About 163 Indian seafarers are aboard these ships, and over 4,500 Indian seafarers serve on various commercial vessels operating in the region. The Ministry of Shipping continues to monitor ship movements and the well-being of the crews, and Jaiswal expressed India’s commitment to the safety of the seafaring community abroad.
On the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, he said the two countries maintain a joint river commission, and all river-related matters will be taken up through that mechanism, while technical-level meetings on the treaty continue. The 1996 pact, which governs the sharing of Ganga waters at the Farakka Barrage, remains a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation on rivers.
