RSS affiliate calls for economic sanctions against Türkiye for military support to Pakistan

The Print

14-05-2025

'SJM reiterates that people of Bharat must boycott nations actively helping Pakistan build its offensive capabilities. The principle of 'Nation First' must guide our trade, investment, and diplomatic relationships,' it said in a statement, while urging 'patriotic' citizens to boycott Turkish products, travel and cultural exports in national interest and solidarity with Indian soldiers.
SJM has also suggested discouraging outbound tourism to Türkiye, issuing a travel advisory to Indian citizens against visiting, and withdrawing tourism promotion co-operation as part of the sanctions.
New Delhi: Condemning Türkiye's military support to Pakistan, the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) has called for economic sanctions against the country. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliate has appealed to the Narendra Modi government to temporarily suspend direct flights to Türkiye and revoke aviation codeshare privileges until it halts defence equipment supplies to Pakistan.
Last week, amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions in the wake of India's launch of Operation Sindoor—targeting nine terror hubs in Pakistan—the Indian government had said that Pakistan used Turkish drones to infiltrate Indian airspace.
SJM said that despite a series of gestures of solidarity and goodwill, Türkiye has chosen to side with 'Bharat's adversaries in matters of vital national security interest'. 'This betrayal of trust must be addressed with moral clarity and strategic firmness,' the statement read.
It further said that India contributes significantly to Türkiye's tourism revenue: 'In 2024/25, nearly 4 lakh Indian tourists visited Türkiye. Dozens of weekly direct flights operate between major Indian cities and Istanbul, operated by Turkish Airlines and Indian carriers'.
Ashwani Mahajan, the national co-convenor of SJM, said, 'Türkiye, a NATO member and a supposed secular republic, has increasingly aligned itself with radical Islamist regimes and military establishments hostile to Bharat's sovereignty. In recent years, Türkiye's strategic defence partnership with Pakistan has grown at an alarming pace, with the Turkish government supplying critical military hardware, technological platforms, and training to Pakistan's armed forces.'
He said it was shocking that Türkiye, 'the second-largest arms supplier to Pakistan after China', has played a key role in modernising Pakistan's navy and enhancing its aerial warfare capabilities. 'It's unfortunate that Türkiye didn't even condemn the brutal terror attack at Pahalgam killing 26 people on April 22.'
Suggesting a series of the 'urgent steps', SJM urged the 'government of Bharat' to 'impose economic sanctions by restricting non-essential imports from Türkiye and impose higher duties on key Turkish commodities, such as marble, chemicals, and machinery'.
The organisation suggested promoting domestic alternatives, and urged Indian businesses and consumers to switch to 'Bharatiya substitutes for Turkish goods, and promote domestic destinations in place of Istanbul, Antalya, and Cappadocia'.
It also asked the government to re-evaluate diplomatic engagements between the two nations, including reducing the level of diplomatic and cultural exchanges with Türkiye, and reassessing all bilateral agreements.
Also Read: NATO member Türkiye expresses solidarity with Pakistan against 'India's unprovoked aggression'
'Unholy alliance'
Outlining some of the 'most disturbing' developments, SJM said that Türkiye delivered MILGEM-class warships to Pakistan under a $1.5 billion deal, strengthening Pakistan's naval strike capabilities. 'Turkish company Baykar has supplied Pakistan with Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı armed drones—platforms already proven in conflicts in Libya, Syria, and Azerbaijan. Türkiye's STM is upgrading Pakistan's Agosta 90B submarines under a $350 million agreement. An electronic warfare test range has been established in Pakistan with the help of HAVELSAN, Türkiye's defence electronics major,' it added.
Condemning the 'unholy alliance', which it said directly compromises India's national security, SJM said that the defence collaboration is not just commercial, but also ideological, 'targeting the stability of South Asia and emboldening Pakistan's military adventurism'.
'At a time when Bharat has exercised tremendous restraint in the face of repeated provocations from Pakistan—including the harbouring of terror camps and aggressive posturing near the Line of Control—Türkiye's support amounts to direct complicity,' it added.
The organisation also highlighted how India has provided humanitarian support to Türkiye in the past. 'It seems Türkiye has forgotten Bharat's generous and timely humanitarian assistance to Türkiye in its times of crisis. Bharat has stood by Türkiye not only as a trading partner, but as a responsible global power demonstrating 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam',' it said.
SJM cited examples, including the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye in February 2023.
'Bharat was one of the first countries to launch Operation Dost, dispatching rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army medical teams, field hospitals, and over 100 tons of relief material, including medical supplies, generators, tents, and blankets,' it said. 'On multilateral platforms like the G20 and UN, Bharat has consistently supported inclusive engagement with Türkiye as part of the broader West Asian neighbourhood, including dialogue on energy security and counter-terrorism.'
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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