Turkish President's unwavering backing of Pakistan intensifies India's economic and travel boycotts
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated his unwavering support for Pakistan, referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as his "dear brother" and pledging to stand by Pakistan "in good times and bad."
This declaration comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan and growing calls within India to boycott Turkish goods and tourism.Erdogan's statement followed a message from PM Sharif, who expressed gratitude for Turkey's backing after India's Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror operation launched in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Erdogan emphasized the strength of Turkey-Pakistan relations, describing them as "one of the finest examples of true friendship" and concluded with, "Long live Pakistan-Turkey friendship!"
The Turkish president's remarks have intensified backlash in India, where citizens and officials express concern over Turkey's alignment with Pakistan. Reports have emerged indicating that drones used in cross-border strikes against India were of Turkish origin, specifically Asisguard Songar models.In response, Indian citizens have initiated widespread boycotts of Turkish and Azerbaijani products and tourism.
Major travel companies, including MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip, have suspended bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan, citing a significant drop in demand.The Indian government's decision to block the X (formerly Twitter) account of Turkish news outlet TRT World further underscores the deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two nations.As tensions continue to escalate, the impact on bilateral trade and tourism between India and Turkey remains uncertain. However, the current trajectory suggests a significant strain on diplomatic and economic ties.
