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.
