Fazlı Çorman, director-general for South Asia at the Turkish Foreign Ministry
The Indian Embassy in Ankara on Friday marked the day of India Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), the government's assistance program established in 1964.
Fazlı Çorman, director-general for South Asia at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, the Indian ambassador to Ankara, and alumni of the ITEC program were among the participants at the buffet dinner at the embassy.
Speaking at the event, Çorman said: “We regard our relations with India as very important.”
“From Turkish perspective, India is a country that is becoming more and more significant in science and technology and this is a desire from our side to have cooperation in this area,” he said.
He said there is a need to work together with Bhattacharyya for the implementation of recently signed agreements between the two countries.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Ankara on Friday called on the UN Security Council to help resolve the conflict in Kashmir.In an interview with Anadolu Agency given in the wake of the 71st anniversary of the Kashmir dispute, Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi called for an "independent and transparent" inquiry under the UN auspices to hold the perpetrators of the acts accountable.On Oct. 27, 1947, Indian troops positioned themselves in Kashmir’s largest city Srinagar after India and Pakistan gained their independence at the end of the British colonial rule. The 71st anniversary of this Indian action is observed by Pakistanis and Kashmiris as a “Black Day”, while India commemorates it as “Accession Day.”Qazi said: "As a result of the Indian occupation, not only the entire region has been facing threats to peace and security for the past seven decades, but the Kashmiris under occupation have endured the worst atrocities and human rights abuses.”Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. The two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- since they were partitioned in 1947.Since 1989, Kashmiri resistance groups have been fighting in Indian-held Kashmir against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.Qazi said an estimated 95,000 Kashmiris have been martyred and thousands of women have been raped and molested since 1989."For the Kashmiris, this day not only symbolizes the start of an era of occupation, repression, and grave and systemic human rights abuses by Indian occupation forces, but also marks the start of Kashmiri people’s resistance and defiance against this illegal occupation," Qazi said.He noted that India took the dispute to the UN Security Council, but the country has refused to implement the Security Council resolutions."The continued suffering of the Kashmiris under the Indian occupation is also a sad reflection on the inability of the international community, in particular the United Nations Security Council to implement its moral and legal responsibilities," Qazi said.The ambassador also said despite calls by the international human rights organizations, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), India continues to deny access to all human rights monitors and media to the occupied territory."Our position on the settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute is consistent with the UN Security Council Resolutions. Sadly, India continues to shy away from this reality, and is instead dragging the entire region down the precipice of conflict.Pakistani president to pay two-day visit to TurkeyPakistan wishes 'comprehensive dialogue' with IndiaHe added Pakistan wishes to resolve all disputes with India through a "serious and comprehensive" dialogue that covers all issues of concern.Qazi said India frequently violates the ceasefire along the Line of Control [a military boundary splitting the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan] in Kashmir, adding: "It is also threatening to wage a 'limited war' against Pakistan.""This belligerent and irresponsible attitude will only push the region further down the precipice of conflict and instability," he said.The ambassador added there can be no lasting peace in South Asia without a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute based on the UN Security Council resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people."International community, in particular the United Nations Security Council, has an important role to play in the just resolution of this dispute," he said.Qazi added the UN as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have an important role to play in ending the "gross and systematic" violations of human rights being perpetrated by the Indian forces.
Pakistani Ambassador in Turkey commemorates ‘Black Day’
Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday welcomed holding of the elections for the lower house of the Afghan Parliament on Oct. 20 despite challenging conditions."We hope that postponed elections in two provinces due to the security situation will be held as early as possible," the ministry said in a statement."After all relevant Afghan institutions carry out their work in a just and transparent manner, we expect that the definitive results of the elections will be declared as soon as possible," it added.Afghan Taliban leader freed in PakistanVoting for the long-due Afghan parliamentary elections held last Saturday amid tight security.Election-related violence claimed more than 60 lives across the country in two days, local media reported.The Taliban, who have declared war on the government, warned people against coming out to vote.Preliminary results are expected on Nov. 10 while final results are due by Dec. 20.
Turkey welcomes holding of Afghan parliament elections
The most “promising” cooperation between the two countries would be in the fields of science and technology as well as education, Çorman added.
He said Turkey is closely following development projects in India such as the Digital India program and the 100 Smart Cities.
Bhattacharyya, for his part, said the ITEC has now become a very visible part of India’s role and contribution to South-South cooperation.
ITEC and its sister program Special Commonwealth Assistance for Africa Programme (SCAAP) covers 161 countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Carribean as well as the Pacific and small island countries, Bhattacharyya said.
He added that to date, some 300 people of the Turkish government attended the ITEC program.
The program continued with traditional Indian dance shows and food.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Ankara on Friday called on the UN Security Council to help resolve the conflict in Kashmir.In an interview with Anadolu Agency given in the wake of the 71st anniversary of the Kashmir dispute, Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi called for an "independent and transparent" inquiry under the UN auspices to hold the perpetrators of the acts accountable.On Oct. 27, 1947, Indian troops positioned themselves in Kashmir’s largest city Srinagar after India and Pakistan gained their independence at the end of the British colonial rule. The 71st anniversary of this Indian action is observed by Pakistanis and Kashmiris as a “Black Day”, while India commemorates it as “Accession Day.”Qazi said: "As a result of the Indian occupation, not only the entire region has been facing threats to peace and security for the past seven decades, but the Kashmiris under occupation have endured the worst atrocities and human rights abuses.”Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. The two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- since they were partitioned in 1947.Since 1989, Kashmiri resistance groups have been fighting in Indian-held Kashmir against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.Qazi said an estimated 95,000 Kashmiris have been martyred and thousands of women have been raped and molested since 1989."For the Kashmiris, this day not only symbolizes the start of an era of occupation, repression, and grave and systemic human rights abuses by Indian occupation forces, but also marks the start of Kashmiri people’s resistance and defiance against this illegal occupation," Qazi said.He noted that India took the dispute to the UN Security Council, but the country has refused to implement the Security Council resolutions."The continued suffering of the Kashmiris under the Indian occupation is also a sad reflection on the inability of the international community, in particular the United Nations Security Council to implement its moral and legal responsibilities," Qazi said.The ambassador also said despite calls by the international human rights organizations, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), India continues to deny access to all human rights monitors and media to the occupied territory."Our position on the settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute is consistent with the UN Security Council Resolutions. Sadly, India continues to shy away from this reality, and is instead dragging the entire region down the precipice of conflict.Pakistani president to pay two-day visit to TurkeyPakistan wishes 'comprehensive dialogue' with IndiaHe added Pakistan wishes to resolve all disputes with India through a "serious and comprehensive" dialogue that covers all issues of concern.Qazi said India frequently violates the ceasefire along the Line of Control [a military boundary splitting the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan] in Kashmir, adding: "It is also threatening to wage a 'limited war' against Pakistan.""This belligerent and irresponsible attitude will only push the region further down the precipice of conflict and instability," he said.The ambassador added there can be no lasting peace in South Asia without a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute based on the UN Security Council resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people."International community, in particular the United Nations Security Council, has an important role to play in the just resolution of this dispute," he said.Qazi added the UN as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have an important role to play in ending the "gross and systematic" violations of human rights being perpetrated by the Indian forces. Pakistani Ambassador in Turkey commemorates ‘Black Day’
An explosion at a firecracker factory in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh killed eight people and injured three on Friday, police said."The roof was blown away due to the impact of the explosion. The reason is not immediately clear," said Surendra Singh, a police official in Badaun district.Millions of fireworks will be set off during the Hindu festival of Diwali next month and shops are stocking up on supplies.India's Supreme Court said this week only "environmentally safe" fireworks would be allowed, to limit the high pollution across the country.
Blast at firecracker factory in north India kills eight
Four Indian cabinet ministers will suggest steps to address sexual harassment at work, the government said on Wednesday, after a growing #MeToo movement sparked accusations against more than a dozen men and forced a minister to resign.The two men and two women will review existing provisions on women's safety and recommend further measures, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.Women's groups say a requirement under current harassment laws that accusations have be made to a workplace complaints committee within three months is unfair. They also say it is not clear who takes responsibility for ensuring compliance once a decision is taken on a complaint.Israel Aerospace wins $777 mln India contract for missile defence"The government is committed to ensure the safety and dignity of women in the workforce," said the ministry, whose boss, Rajnath Singh, will lead the group.India's junior minister for foreign affairs, M.J. Akbar, resigned this month to fight accusations of sexual harassment from more than a dozen women during his previous career as a journalist. He has denied wrongdoing and filed a defamation suit against one of his accusers.The #MeToo movement, which began in the United States more than a year ago, gained traction in India last month after an actress accused a veteran actor of behaving inappropriately 10 years ago.Since then many women have accused men from the worlds of media, Bollywood, politics and art of offences ranging from harassment to rape.The government statement on Wednesday also said that the Ministry of Women and Child Development had launched an "electronic complaints box" for harassment cases. 
India ministers seek to tighten rules against sexual harassment