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Anti-Türkiye sentiment is growing in India amid renewed tensions with Pakistan, as unverified claims and political frustration fuel a backlash against Turkish businesses operating in the country.
Triggered by a deadly militant attack in Kashmir on April 22, several Indian public figures and social media users have called for boycotts of Turkish companies. The attack, which occurred in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, claimed 26 civilian lives and led to swift retaliatory measures by New Delhi.
These included suspending visas for Pakistani nationals, expelling diplomats, and closing key border crossings. India attributed the attack to militant groups based in Pakistan—a claim firmly denied by Islamabad—while tensions have continued to escalate, with reports of intermittent cross-border military exchanges.
Despite Türkiye maintaining a neutral stance and calling for restraint and adherence to international law, criticism in India has intensified due to disinformation suggesting that Türkiye supplied weapons to Pakistan. Allegations circulated in Indian media and online claimed that six Turkish military transport aircraft had landed in Pakistan to deliver defense systems.
According to these false claims, the aircraft allegedly delivered KARAOK anti-tank missiles and various munitions for TB2 UAVs, including MAM-L, MAM-C, and KEMANKES.
However, the Turkish Defense Ministry firmly refuted the allegations on Wednesday, stating: “A cargo plane departing from Türkiye made a stop in Pakistan for refueling. After that, it continued on its designated route. Speculative reports made outside the statements of authorized persons and institutions should not be taken into consideration.”
The long-standing codeshare partnership between Türkiye’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines and India’s largest airline IndiGo has come under scrutiny. Established in 2018, the agreement enables passengers to book single-ticket flights across more than 30 destinations in Europe and the United States, including New York, Washington, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, and Istanbul.
A recent Economic Times report claimed that Turkish Airlines benefits disproportionately from the partnership due to its extensive international network, allowing it to dominate market share. The report triggered widespread criticism among Indian commentators who perceive Türkiye as aligned with Pakistan on security matters.
Sushant Sareen, a Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, criticized Indian policymakers for continuing such partnerships, writing, “We feed snakes and then wonder why they bite us. Turkey benefits from us and then stabs us openly.”
Echoing this sentiment, venture capitalist Rajeev Mantri pointed out that Türkiye refused to sell armed drones to India while supplying them to Pakistan and Bangladesh. He questioned why India supports Turkish companies economically while domestic defense startups suffer from delays and lack of payment.
While Turkish Airlines has become the focal point of the backlash, other major Turkish companies operating in India have also drawn attention. The most prominent among them is Koc Holding, Türkiye’s largest industrial conglomerate. Through its global appliance brand Beko, Koc partnered with India’s Tata Group in 2017 to launch Voltas Beko, a joint venture with a capital investment of $100 million.
Other Turkish firms with operations in India include Celebi Holding, active in aviation and ground handling services; Dogus Group, which engages in infrastructure and construction projects; and Limak Holding, involved in engineering and contracting across South Asia.
However, growing nationalist pressure is pushing for a reassessment of these business ties, as critics argue that Türkiye’s foreign policy stance contradicts Indian national interests. Although there is no official government ban on Turkish companies, public sentiment against them is visibly mounting.
Meanwhile, Türkiye continues to urge restraint and peaceful dialogue. The Defense Ministry emphasized Wednesday Ankara’s understanding of Pakistan’s security concerns but called on all parties to avoid provocative actions.
“Speculative reports made outside the statements of authorized persons and institutions should not be taken into consideration,” the ministry reiterated. Türkiye has underscored its commitment to regional peace and stability, urging the international community to take a constructive role in facilitating de-escalation between India and Pakistan.
Türkiye is following the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India, which are threatening stability and severely undermining regional security in South Asia, with “great concern,” Defense Ministry officials said.
“It is clear that the increasing verbal and military tensions between the two countries can have consequences that threaten not only the peoples of the region but also the entire international community,” the ministry added. “Therefore, it is essential for India to act responsibly by avoiding escalatory steps and to operate within the framework of international law and diplomacy.”
The ministry also underlined that Türkiye will continue to stand firm against any provocative actions that create instability in South Asia.
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