Rajnath seeks Turkey's support on Kashmir issue

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday sought Turkey's support on the Kashmir issue in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which has in the past issued statements criticising India.

The minister presented India's view to a Turkish delegation led by Minister of Development Lutfi Elvan here.

A Home Ministry statement said that Rajnath Singh sought "Istanbul's support in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)".

The 57-member OIC (formerly Organization of the Islamic Conference) had last month issued a statement criticising alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. India had dismissed the statement.

Terming terrorism as a major challenge for the global community, the Home Minister said both the countries should come on-board to fight terrorism.

On the Islamic State (IS), Singh said the ISIS does not have much wider dimension in India though it posed a major challenge to Turkey.

The Turkish Minister Elvan pushed for comprehensive trade partnership between the two countries.

"The two countries should push forward the Comprehensive Trade Partnership Agreement and propose revival of sittings of the joint economic forum," Elvan said.

He also sought more investment opportunities for Turkish construction companies in India's infrastructure sector and said Istanbul can be a favoured transit point for trans-Atlantic destinations.

--IANS

rak/rn