PRESS RELEASE 

 

INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC THINKING (SDE) HOLDS A SEMINAR ON KASHMIR 

A seminar titled ‘Pakistan India tensions over Kashmir’ was held at Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE) Ankara in connection with upcoming “Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir”. August 05th is observed as Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir, the day when Indian government, breaching fundamental legal norms and rules, illegally and unilaterally revoked articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian constitution. These articles conferred upon Kashmir the autonomous status with special rights and privileges for Kashmiris, and were irrevocable and permanent provisions of the Indian Constitution.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye, Dr. Yousaf Junaid thanked President H.E Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish brethren for their principled stance on Kashmir and highlighting the issue on international platforms, particularly United Nations.

Ambassador Junaid highlighted that an intensified campaign to ‘Indianize’ Kashmir, and transform Kashmiris into a disempowered community in their own land, had been in full swing since 5 August 2019. The current Indian designs in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and attempts to change the demographics were replication of the Israeli designs in Palestine, he added. 

While referring to unprovoked military aggression by India against Pakistan in May 2025, Ambassador Junaid underscored that those disturbing developments of Indian belligerent behavior were reminder that the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the primary source of conflict in South Asia. There was an urgent need for renewed and concerted efforts under the UN auspices to secure a just, lasting, and peaceful resolution of the dispute, he emphasized. 

In his welcome remarks, Vice President SDE Alpar Tan explained the origins of the Kashmir issue, noting that it was one of the oldest matters on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, still awaiting a peaceful resolution according to the will of Kashmiri people.

In his speech, Mr. Albay Mithat IŞIK, SDE Defence and Security Coordinator, stated that the international community should take note of human rights violations happening in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, as justice is vital for global peace and security. 

Journalist Mr Mehmet Ozturk emphasized on the resolution of Kashmir dispute as per United Nations Security Council resolutions through free and impartial plebiscite and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

 

Ankara, 25th July, 2025

 

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