How Modi’s Nicosia visit taunts Turkish hypocrisy on Cyprus and Kashmir

New Delhi: Sometimes, a landscape tells a story of pain that words struggle to capture. On Monday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi toured the storied heart of Nicosia with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, the two leaders paused at a vantage point to view the mountains looming north of the city. These mountains, beyond their rugged beauty, bear the scars of history' claimed and occupied by Turkey since 1974, and emblazoned with a vast Turkish flag and nationalist slogans, an ever-present reminder to the free Cypriots of what has been lost.

For the people of Cyprus, the division of their country is not an abstract chapter in a textbook; it is a daily reality. The giant Turkish symbols carved into the hills above Nicosia are more than nationalist bravado, they are a psychological weapon, a statement of dominance, and a calculated humiliation. Every day, Cypriots are forced to look upon the occupied territory, a visible and painful taunt about the limits of their sovereignty. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Ankara, stands as a geopolitical anomaly, sustained by military presence and political intransigence.

India’s solidarity with Cyprus is not new. From the very beginning, India has stood for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, rejecting any attempts at partition or forced demographic change. This bond is rooted in India’s own experience with territorial disputes and illegal occupations. For Indians, the situation in Cyprus echoes all too clearly the story of Pakistan’s illegal hold over parts of Jammu & Kashmir, a festering wound on the Indian nation’s conscience, reinforced by propaganda and international maneuvering. Both nations know what it means to have neighbors who seek legitimacy through constant provocation and manufactured narratives.

The symbolism of Modi’s walk with President Christodoulides is difficult to miss. As they gazed across the UN-patrolled buffer zone toward the Turkish-occupied north, the spectacle of occupation was quite literally in their line of sight. For India, there is an added layer of irony: Turkey, a loud critic of India’s Kashmir policy, rarely stops to reflect on its own role in Cyprus. Ankara routinely raises the issue of Kashmir at international forums, claiming to champion the rights of Kashmiris, while refusing to address its own occupation in Cyprus, one of the world’s longest-running and least resolved territorial disputes.

This double standard is not lost on New Delhi, nor on Nicosia. Modi’s visit is a timely reminder of the need for consistency in international conduct. Nations that lecture others on human rights and self-determination must first reckon with their own records. In Cyprus, the trauma of division is reinforced daily, not only through the presence of soldiers but by the sight of a mountain turned into a canvas for occupation. The messages painted on the hills are not just an affront to Cypriot dignity, but also a warning to the world about the costs of unfinished business in international law.

The Indian delegation’s visit to the historic centre of Nicosia, with its walled city, ancient churches, and bustling markets, was more than a diplomatic courtesy. It was a gesture of empathy, solidarity, and shared struggle. The story of Cyprus is, in many ways, the story of all nations who have experienced the sting of occupation and the frustration of international indifference. As Modi and Christodoulides walked through the old city, meeting citizens and local leaders, the reality of the unresolved conflict was never far from view, literally or figuratively.

Social media and news outlets buzzed with a video clip from the day: Michaela Kythreoti Mhlapa, a Cypriot lawmaker, greeting Prime Minister Modi by touching his feet, a rare gesture of respect in Europe but deeply familiar in India. In a region marked by forced divisions, such moments underscore the strength of cross-cultural ties and shared values. For Cypriots, India’s support is not merely diplomatic posturing; it is a signal that their struggle for justice is seen and understood.

With the 1974 invasion still shaping every aspect of Cypriot life, reunification remains elusive. International negotiations have faltered, and each failed round leaves the wounds open. The Turkish flag on the mountain endures as a daily insult, a stark symbol of what remains unresolved. For Indians, who see the map of their country forever altered by Pakistan’s occupation of Kashmir, there is little patience for the hypocrisy of those who point fingers abroad while ignoring the pain they inflict at home.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Nicosia was a quiet but clear statement. In the politics of occupation and territorial integrity, actions and history matter far more than rhetoric. For both Cyprus and India, the path forward is shaped by an unyielding resolve: to remember, to resist erasure, and to support all who face the burden of imposed borders and the politics of humiliation.