 "Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharid and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hold a bilateral meeting in Ankara, Turkey on April 22, 2025. Image/Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara")
Indians are cutting ties with Turkey over the country’s open support to Pakistan in the ongoing tensions with India.
A ‘ban Turkey’ campaign has taken shape in India after Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly supported Pakistan as it continued to attack India with missiles, drones, and fighter planes. Moreover, Pakistan used Turkish drones in large numbers to attack India.
The sectors expected to be hit hardest are tourism and hospitality and agricultural exports.
Turkey’s support to Pakistan
Turkey is supporting Pakistan’s anti-India campaign in two ways.
Firstly, Turkey has provided drones to Pakistan that the country has used to attack India.
India has said that Pakistan has attacked India with Turkey-made Songar and Yiha drones.
Pakistan has also used Chinese fighter planes and missiles, such as the PL-15, in attacks on India.
Secondly, Turkey has supported Pakistan diplomatically. Turkish President Erdogan has extended unconditional support to Pakistan.
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Incidentally, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was in Turkey on a visit on the day terrorists killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. He and Erdogan used the visit to raise the Kashmir issue even as the Pahalgam attack was unfolding.
After India launched Operation Sindoor, Erdogan said that Turkey “took a very clear stance” on “missile strikes targeting Pakistan”. He further declared “open support” for “the brotherly people of Pakistan” and vowed to stand with them in times good and bad.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIndia’s boycott Turkey movement
The unofficial movement to boycott Turkey has picked up pace in India with parties in the tourism, hospitality, and agriculture sectors taking the lead.
A number of leading tourism agencies have snapped ties with Turkey. This can deal a blow to Turkey’s booming tourism and hospitality industry.
Turkey’s tourism and hospitality sectors contribute around $140 billion to the economy and Indians comprise around 0.5 per cent of all tourists. However, Indian tourists among the fastest-growing segments for Turkey’s tourism industry. In recent years, the country had become particularly popular for destination weddings and corporate meetings, conferences, retreats, and exhibitions. Last year, Indians tourists to the country grew by around 20 per cent year-on-year.
The following tourism and travel agencies have taken steps regarding Turkey:
EaseMyTrip has suspended all bookings for Turkey.
Cox & Kings has suspended all bookings for Turkey.
Travomint has suspended of all travel packages to Turkey.
ixigo has suspended bookings for Turkey.
Goa Villas has ended the partnership with Turkish Airlines.
Cleartrip has suspended all bookings to Turkey.
Calls have also been made to boycott Turkish agricultural products, such as apples.
India is the largest importer of Turkish apples. Last year, India imported Turkish apples worth around $92 million.
The business transactions between the two country might also be affected as tensions rise. The investments, mergers, and acquisition activities might be affected in the coming days.