Amid increasingly strained relations between India and Turkey, New Delhi on Thursday called on Ankara to take a firm stand against Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism. The statement comes after reports confirmed that Pakistan used Turkish drones and Chinese-made missiles during its latest escalation attempts following India's Operation Sindoor.

During a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We expect Turkey to strongly urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism and take credible and verifiable actions against the terror ecosystem it has harboured for decades. Relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each other’s concerns.”

India's sharp response comes in the wake of Turkey's increasing alignment with Pakistan, particularly during the recent conflict sparked by the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Turkey is reported to have not only expressed ideological and diplomatic support for Islamabad but also provided military hardware, including drones, during the conflict escalation.

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Indian Backlash: Economic and Tourism Boycott

The Indian public and businesses have responded swiftly to Turkey’s involvement, launching a widespread boycott of Turkish goods and services. This move is expected to worsen Turkey's ongoing economic crisis, already exacerbated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s controversial economic strategies, a plummeting lira, and soaring inflation.

Travel platforms have reported a 60 per cent decline in bookings from Indian tourists to Turkey, alongside a staggering 250 per cent surge in cancellations. In 2024, Indian tourist arrivals in Turkey had reached 3,30,100. This downturn could translate to tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue for Turkey’s tourism-dependent regions.

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Erdogan’s Message Fuels Diplomatic Fire

Earlier, Turkish President Erdogan openly showed solidarity to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying, “As in the past, we will continue to stand by you in good times and bad in the future.” This statement, seen as a direct intervention in a South Asian conflict where Turkey has no geographical or strategic stake, has not gone down well in India.

Ankara’s reported assistance in coordinating drone strikes on Indian positions has enraged Indian policymakers and citizens alike, who view Turkey’s actions as a violation of international norms and an unnecessary provocation.

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