Why in news?
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to New Delhi generated intense debate about India-Turkey relations.
What are the issues?
- Turkey has in the past as well issued statements supportive of Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
- But this has not prevented Turkey from seeking good relations with India, specifically to tap the potential for improving bilateral trade and commerce and in enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation.
- Now Erdogan suggested for a ‘multilateral dialogue’ to resolve the Kashmir issue.
- This suggestion is against the Indian position that the Kashmir issue has to be resolved through bilateral negotiations with Pakistan based on the Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration.
- There are also other problem areas including Turkey’s position on India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
- Turkey maintains that there needs to be a procedure that should be equally applicable to all and argues that both India and Pakistan have a fair claim for NSG membership.
What was India’s Response?
- India was careful in its response to the raising of the Kashmir issue.
- Since India has been apprehensive of the Turkish position and rhetoric on Kashmir, New Delhi scheduled engagements with Armenia and Cyprus close to Erdogan’s visit.
- A week before Erdogan’s visit, India hosted Cyprus President, given the Turkish involvement in the Cyprus conflict. (Click here for Cyprus conflict).
- India has maintained good relations with Cyprus since its independence and has supported its stand on the conflict with Turkey.
- Vice President Hamid Ansari visited Armenia and the Armenian genocide memorial and paid his tributes to the victims.
- This is a sensitive issue for Turkey because of the historical involvement of the fathers of the modern Turkish republic in the killings of Armenians at the height of their national struggle.
- Turkey has been wary of the world recognizing the ‘Armenian genocide.’
- India was engaging with Turkey’s adversaries while at the same time signalling its ability to raise controversial issues detrimental to Ankara’s interests.
What should be done?
- Despite the major differences, there are some common grounds which the two sides are looking to capitalize on.
- From the bilateral viewpoint, the visit was focused on three aspects — improving trade; enhancing two-way flow of investments; and establishing closer counter-terrorism cooperation.
- Both sides had then expressed the desire to realize trade and business potentials.
- Turkey’s support for the UNSC reform as well as India’s bid for a UNSC seat reflects mutual concerns about global affairs.
- India and Turkey are driven by the desire to tap the possibilities for business, trade and investments.
- Moreover, the number of Indian tourists visiting Turkey is increasing significantly in the past decade.
- The popularity of the Indian entertainment industry and films in Turkey has witnessed a rise.
Source: ISDA
