The tensions between India and Turkey have been escalated. the Indian government has directed IndiGo, the nation’s largest airline, to terminate its aircraft lease agreement with Turkish Airlines by August 31, 2025. This decision is a key component of the broader “Boycott Turkey” campaign, which has gained momentum in India following Turkey’s military and diplomatic support for Pakistan during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, particularly Operation Sindoor.
Turkey has been against India since a long time. The worthless country has multiple times supported Pakistan. They are dressings of the same plate. During the earthquake in Turkey, India was the first responder to assist and provide humanitarian aid. The country whose name resonated with the dead cooked chicken only stabbed it into back. Both Turkey and Pakistan are the countries that have an unconditional love towards terrorism.
Background of India-Turkey Tensions
India and Turkey have historically maintained diplomatic relations, but recent years have seen a deterioration due to Turkey’s growing alignment with Pakistan, particularly on the Kashmir issue. The tensions peaked during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, triggered by a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists. India accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, carried out by militants linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Turkey’s involvement in the conflict has been a major point of contention. Reports indicate that Turkey supplied Pakistan with over 350 drones, including Asisguard Songar and Bayraktar TB2 models, used in attacks against India. Additionally, two Turkish military operatives were reportedly killed during Operation Sindoor, highlighting Turkey’s direct military involvement (India Today). Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s public support for Pakistan, describing it as a “true brother,” further inflamed Indian public sentiment.
Government Actions Against Turkish Entities
The Indian government has implemented several measures targeting Turkish entities in response to these developments:
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IndiGo’s Aircraft Lease: IndiGo operates two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on a damp lease from Turkish Airlines for flights between Delhi/Mumbai and Istanbul. The lease was set to expire on May 31, 2025, and IndiGo sought a six-month extension. The Ministry of Civil Aviation rejected this request, granting only a three-month extension until August 31, 2025, to avoid passenger disruptions. The ministry emphasized that no further extensions will be allowed (NDTV, Business Today).
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Celebi Aviation: The government revoked the security clearance of Celebi Aviation, a Turkish ground-handling firm operating at nine major Indian airports, including Delhi. This led to a transition to Indian companies for ground services (Reuters).
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Other Measures: The government has also blocked the X account of TRT World, Turkey’s state-run broadcaster, in India (IDRW).
The “Boycott Turkey” Campaign
The “Boycott Turkey” campaign has gained significant traction across various sectors in India, reflecting public and institutional anger over Turkey’s actions:
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Tourism: Indian tourists are canceling trips to Turkey, with platforms like MakeMyTrip reporting a 60% drop in bookings and a 250% increase in cancellations (India Today). The Travel Agents Association of India noted that 50% of bookings for Turkey have been canceled, reflecting a shift in public sentiment.
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Trade: The All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation, representing 13 million small retailers, has launched an indefinite boycott of Turkish goods, including chocolates, coffee, and skincare products (Reuters). Major e-commerce platforms like Ajio and Myntra have also suspended sales of Turkish apparel.
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Education: Universities such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Maulana Azad National Urdu University have suspended academic collaborations with Turkish institutions, including joint research and MOUs (BBC).
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Media and Entertainment: The Indian film industry has vowed not to shoot films in Turkey, further isolating the country culturally.
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Sector |
Actions Taken |
|---|---|
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Tourism |
60% drop in bookings, 250% increase in cancellations |
|
Trade |
Boycott of Turkish chocolates, coffee, and apparel by retailers and e-commerce |
|
Education |
Suspension of MOUs and collaborations with Turkish universities |
|
Government |
Revocation of Celebi Aviation’s security clearance, directive to IndiGo to end lease |
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Media |
Blocking of TRT World’s X account in India |
Impact on Turkey’s Economy
Turkey’s economy, already strained by high inflation (38.01% in March 2025) and currency depreciation, faces significant challenges from the boycott. India is a major market for Turkish tourism and trade, with over 330,000 Indian tourists visiting Turkey in 2024. The loss of Indian tourists and consumers could exacerbate Turkey’s economic difficulties, particularly in the tourism and retail sectors. However, some Turkish experts argue that Turkey could find alternative markets to mitigate the impact (The Week).
Any country cannot be brought down to knees by one step alone. This decision will not completely hurt turkey but will certainly put some impact. We have seen example of the Begging bowl in Aisa- Pakistan. It is in dust and dirt yet it is receiving alms in form of aid. Indian tourists and businessmen will not leave it completely, but certainly there will be some effect. That is itself is a win for India.
Criticism of Selective Targeting
Some critics argue that India’s focus on Turkey is selective, as other countries like China, which also supports Pakistan, have not faced similar boycott calls. Businessman Harsh Mariwala emphasized the need for consistency, stating that if India boycotts Turkey for supporting Pakistan, the same standard should apply to China (Business Today). Others have pointed out that countries like Azerbaijan and Malaysia, which also backed Pakistan, are included in boycott calls, but the focus remains primarily on Turkey due to its direct military involvement.
Statements from Stakeholders
IndiGo’s CEO, Pieter Elbers, defended the airline’s partnership with Turkish Airlines, stating that it complies with Indian regulations and benefits travelers. However, he acknowledged that the decision to renew the lease lies with the government (Indian Express). Air India, a competitor, lobbied against the lease, citing business disadvantages and security concerns due to Turkey’s stance on Pakistan (Reuters). The Confederation of All India Traders has formalized the boycott, urging a complete halt to trade and tourism with Turkey.
The Indian government’s directive to IndiGo to terminate its lease with Turkish Airlines is a clear signal of its disapproval of Turkey’s support for Pakistan during Operation Sindhur. As part of the broader “Boycott Turkey” campaign, this action reflects a growing rift between India and Turkey, with significant implications for their economic and diplomatic relations. While the boycott may strain Turkey’s economy, the debate over selective targeting highlights the complexities of India’s foreign policy. The coming months will reveal the full impact of these measures on both nations.