India And Turkey On A Collision Course – OpEd
A strong opposition to Türkiye in India over the last several weeks has caught the eye of many in the region and abroad. According to reports, Türkiye supporting Pakistan in the last India-Pakistan conflict triggered a number of actions, including stopping business trade, issuing warnings for tourists, and launching joint political steps. There is more at stake than diplomatic friction. Türkiye’s support for Pakistan clashes with India’s preference to maintain its version of events and reject efforts for justice worldwide.
Indian institutions and celebrities are seemingly targeting Türkiye’s loved tourist spots and media by punishing it for not following their provocative actions. There is no diplomacy behind this, rather their actions are motivated by hatred and vengeance for the Muslim world. The active participation of EaseMyTrip, Cox & Kings and CAIT shows that Türkiye and Azerbaijan are now subject to economic retaliation because of their ties with India’s enemies. Go Homestay’s decision to stop working with Turkish Airlines, made reportedly because of pressure from nationalists, demonstrates that political aims are taking priority over business ones.
Türkiye has always relied on international law and the preservation of human rights while providing unwavering support to Pakistan, especially on Kashmir. Turkey’s policy in this respect is based on cooperating with others and offering help to groups facing oppression, instead of acting on its own interests. On the other hand, rather than talking to critics, India is now trying to both block dissent and draw less attention from the world.
More aggressive anti-Türkiye moves by India are having the opposite effect by drawing Türkiye closer to friendly nations. By calling for boycotts, refusing cultural interactions and insulting Turkey, New Delhi is inadvertently showing how reluctant it is to interact with others in a diplomatic way. Many countries that support dialogue, peaceful living and opposition to aggression are noticing India’s aggressive actions. The outcome is that Türkiye does not remain isolated, but India could end up apart from the world as others see its aggressive moves as against global standards.
This campaign may be increasing the strength of the partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye. As propaganda, economic pressure and regional bullying increase, countries have become more united. By using their own methods, India is actually strengthening these nations by bringing them together against domineering or controlling influences. It seems obvious that the attacks on Türkiye are aimed at more than their foreign policy choices, instead, their goal is to block other ways of thinking.
It is apparent that India is increasingly nervous and determined to affect the international image of its neighbor by taking such defensive measures. By reacting so strongly, the government diminishes India’s previous support for pluralism. Closing down TRT World and other media channels is an example of a wider process targeting both the state’s stories and the ability of journalists to report freely. The decision to block Turkish TV channels indicates that India feels uncomfortable in a world where other countries can challenge its views.
Culture has also been affected by this political situation. An influential Indian actress, Rupali Ganguly, helped push the issue further by urging people to avoid Türkiye. Ambassador of peace and positioned to bring people together, she has in fact divided countries and weakened efforts for open dialogue.
The main purpose of this hostile campaign is to reveal how unsettled the Indian leadership truly is. Türkiye chose to assist Pakistan when it faced challenging moments, in order to respect justice, the right of nations to govern themselves and human dignity, rather than risk testing violence with India. It is apparent from India’s actions that global politics are separated between those who value sovereignty and international law and those who force others by dominating the regional stage with fear and coercion.
This situation suggests that the actions of India are due to feelings of instability, not simply demonstrating their strength. By blaming Türkiye for sticking to its principles, New Delhi is expressing its dissatisfaction with countries that refuse to allow one dominant nation to rule the world and choose their own path, include peace and confront leading powers openly. As a result, India’s actions against Türkiye are not gaining support from other countries and instead demonstrate its move away from discussing and defending its values.