Ahead of his two day state visit to India, Turkish President Erdogen Recep Tayyip Sunday told an Indian News channel that Turkey is ready to mediate between India and Pakistan to solve the Kashmir issue.

“We should not allow more casualties to occur. By having a multi-lateral dialogue, (in which) we can be involved, we can seek ways to settle the issue once and for all,” Mr Erdogan told WION news channel Sunday evening.

He said India and Pakistan are both friends of Turkey and he wants to help strengthen the dialogue process.

Meanwhile, India has firmly ruled out third party mediation on Kashmir. 

“We have always emphasised that India-Turkey relations stand on their own footing and, we believe, the Turkish side reciprocates our sentiment,” said Ruchi Ghanashyam, a senior Foreign Ministry official.

She said India’s position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country is very well known.

While as the separatists in the valley have welcomed the statement by the Turkish President. Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Confrenece Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a tweet said that it is welcome statement from the Turkish President.

“Welcome statement of @RT_Erdogan calling for multilateral dialogue for resolution of #Kashmir dispute-Key to peace& Stability in South Asia,” Mirwaiz tweeted.

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