Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE) Organizes Seminar on Kashmir
Ankara : – The Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE), one of Türkiye’s prominent think tanks, hosted a seminar titled “Pakistan-India Tensions Over Kashmir” in connection with the upcoming observance of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir on August 5. The event aimed to shed light on the ongoing human rights violations in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) and underline the international community’s responsibility in facilitating a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The event commenced with welcome remarks by Alpar Tan, Vice President of SDE, who provided historical context to the Kashmir dispute. He recalled that the Jammu and Kashmir issue has remained one of the oldest unresolved items on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council and emphasized the need to uphold the will of the Kashmiri people.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Dr. Yousaf Junaid, thanked the government and people of Türkiye — particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — for their consistent and principled support for the Kashmiri cause on international platforms, including the United Nations.
Ambassador Junaid condemned the Indian government’s unilateral and illegal revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution on August 5, 2019, which stripped Kashmir of its autonomous status. He termed this a clear violation of international law and a grave infringement on the rights of the Kashmiri people.
Highlighting the current situation in the region, Ambassador Junaid stated that since 2019, India has launched an intensified campaign to “Indianize” Kashmir and disempower its indigenous population through demographic engineering. Drawing a parallel with the Israeli policies in Palestine, he described these actions as part of a broader pattern of settler colonialism.
The Ambassador also referred to India’s unprovoked military aggression against Pakistan in May 2025, labeling it as a stark reminder of the volatility of the Kashmir dispute and its centrality in South Asia’s security dynamics. He urged for renewed and collective international efforts, under the auspices of the United Nations, to ensure a just, durable, and peaceful resolution of the dispute.
Delivering his views on regional security, Mr. Albay Mithat IŞIK, Defence and Security Coordinator at SDE, asserted that the international community must take cognizance of the human rights violations in IIOJK, as justice and accountability are fundamental to sustainable peace and global stability.
Renowned Turkish journalist Mr. Mehmet Ozturk echoed these concerns and called for the resolution of the Kashmir conflict through a free and impartial plebiscite, as per the UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The seminar brought together diplomats, academics, journalists, and policy experts, all of whom expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people and emphasized the need for continued dialogue and awareness on the issue. The event served as a reaffirmation of Türkiye’s historical support for the Kashmiri cause and Pakistan’s diplomatic commitment to pursuing justice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
