AhlulBayt News Agency: India has seen growing calls to boycott Turkey following Ankara’s vocal support for Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir, which escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The social media-driven Boycott Turkey movement is impacting Indian businesses, leading to a surge in travel cancellations and backlash against Turkish imports such as apples, jewelry, and marble.
The campaign stems from Turkey’s criticism of India’s cross-border military strikes under Operation Sindoor and its extensive supply of drones to Pakistan during the confrontation.
Turkey openly backed Pakistan after India launched airstrikes on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. As a NATO member, Turkey has been selling military hardware to Pakistan and other countries.
In response, over 125 leading Indian trade representatives have pledged to sever commercial ties with Turkey. This includes trip cancellations, suspension of institutional partnerships, and the revocation of Celebi Aviation’s license.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) canceled the license of Turkish firm Celebi Aviation, which provides ground handling services at nine major airports across India.
Several travel platforms, including EaseMyTrip, Cox & Kings, and Ixigo, have halted bookings to Turkey. Fruit traders have also begun boycotting Turkish goods.
Film industry bodies such as the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) have declared a boycott on shooting locations in Turkey due to its support for Pakistan.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and other educational institutions have suspended their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkish universities, citing national security concerns.
India’s relations with Turkey have sharply deteriorated following Ankara’s condemnation of Operation Sindoor, which it described as “unprovoked aggression.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly expressed solidarity with Pakistan, calling the victims of Indian military actions “martyrs.”
Trade data shows that from April 2024 to February 2025, India’s exports to Turkey stood at USD 5.2 billion, down from USD 6.65 billion in 2023–24. Imports from Turkey also declined to USD 2.84 billion, compared to USD 3.78 billion in the previous year.
Turkey’s total tourism revenue reached $61.1 billion, with Indian tourists contributing an estimated $291.6 million, based on an average spend of $972 per visitor.
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