Türkiye’s SDE Think Tank Hosts Seminar on Kashmir Conflict Ahead of Youm-e-Istehsal

The event focused on the escalating human rights

abuses in Indian Occupied Kashmir and

called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict

Shabana Ayaz

Ankara: The Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE), a leading Turkish think tank, organized a seminar titled “Pakistan-India Tensions Over Kashmir” ahead of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir, observed annually on August 5. The event focused on the escalating human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and called for international efforts toward a just and peaceful resolution of the decades-old conflict.

SDE Vice President Mr. Alpar Tan opened the session by outlining the historical background of the Kashmir dispute. He noted that Jammu and Kashmir remains one of the oldest unresolved issues on the UN Security Council agenda and stressed the importance of respecting the will of the Kashmiri people.

Ambassador Yousaf Junaid Condemns India’s Actions
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Dr. Yousaf Junaid, expressed gratitude to the Turkish government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for their consistent support of the Kashmiri cause on global forums, including the United Nations.

Ambassador Junaid strongly criticized India’s unilateral revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A on August 5, 2019, terming it a blatant violation of international law and the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people.

He warned that since the 2019 move, India has intensified efforts to “Indianize” the region through demographic changes and political marginalization of the native population. He drew comparisons to Israeli policies in Palestine, labeling it a form of settler colonialism.

India’s Aggression and Regional Instability
Referring to India’s unprovoked military aggression against Pakistan in May 2025, Ambassador Junaid stressed the volatility of the Kashmir conflict and its direct link to South Asia’s broader security concerns. He urged the international community to take urgent steps, under UN supervision, to resolve the issue through peaceful means.

Turkish Experts Call for Justice and Accountability
SDE’s Defence and Security Coordinator, Mr. Albay Mithat IŞIK, highlighted the urgent need for global recognition of the human rights situation in IIOJK, stating that justice and accountability are essential for lasting peace.

Renowned journalist Mr. Mehmet Ozturk echoed this sentiment, advocating for a free and impartial plebiscite in Kashmir in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

The seminar gathered diplomats, journalists, academics, and policy experts, who collectively reiterated Türkiye’s longstanding support