Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP, has strongly responded to Turkey's support for Pakistan by urging Turkey to reconsider its stance. He highlighted that India has a far larger Muslim population,, around 220 million honourable Muslims,compared to Pakistan, challenging the narrative that Pakistan is the sole Muslim country in the region.
Owaisi emphasized the deep-rooted historical ties between India and Turkey, noting that Indian depositors were once part of Turkey's Isbank and that the Turkish language was taught in Ladakh until 1990. He also mentioned that northern Turkish pilgrims historically traveled through Ladakh to Mumbai for Hajj, underscoring longstanding cultural connections.
“Turkey must reconsider its stance of supporting Pakistan, and we must also remind Turkey that there is a bank called Isbank, where earlier depositors included people from India, such as from Hyderabad State and Rampur State. There are many historical connections with India, and you must know that until 1990, the Turkish language was taught in the Ladakh area,” said Owaisi.
Owaisi criticized Pakistan as a threat to global peace and humanity, accusing it of promoting terrorism and regional instability. He asserted that Pakistan’s actions contradict Islamic teachings and rejected its claim to being a true Islamic state. He urged Turkey not to fall for Pakistan’s propaganda and false narratives in the name of Islam, pointing out that Muslims in India live with dignity and freedom.
“Until 1920, people from northern Turkey used to come to Ladakh and then travel to Mumbai to perform Hajj. We must continuously remind Turkey that there are 220 million honourable Muslims living in India. This whole bogey of Pakistan being a Muslim country is misleading. There are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan, and Pakistan has nothing to do with Islam at all,” he added.