Univs urged to cut academic ties with Pak, Turkiye & Bangladesh
NEW DELHI: The Association of
Indian Universities
(AIU) Thursday wrote to vice chancellors across the country urging them to sever academic ties with institutions in Pakistan, Turkiye, and Bangladesh, citing
national security concerns
. Institutions like
Jawaharlal Nehru University
(JNU),
Jamia Millia Islamia
and
Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University
(CSJMU), have already suspended or terminated their academic collaborations with Turkish higher education institutions, while Delhi University is reviewing its MoUs.
In a strongly worded letter, 'Appeal for National Solidarity in Response to Pakistan and Its Allies'
State-Sponsored Terrorism
Against India', to all the 1,100 universities, AIU president professor Vinay Kumar Pathak condemned what he described as 'state-sponsored terrorism' and criticised countries such as Turkiye and Bangladesh for supporting anti-India narratives. 'These efforts aim to destabilise our democratic fabric and national unity,' the letter reads, calling on Indian universities to 'review and, if needed, suspend or end' partnerships with institutions in the three nations.
JNU has suspended an MoU with Turkiye's Inonu University 'due to national security considerations as JNU stands with the nation and the armed forces, many of whom are JNU Alumni,' said Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, VC of the university. Jamia has suspended all forms of collaborations with Turkish educational and other establishments. UP govt-run CSJMU has terminated its MoUwith Istanbul University.
The AIU letter frames the appeal as a patriotic duty, emphasising the need for 'national solidarity' over academic convenience. It encourages institutions to put the integrity and sovereignty of the nation above global engagements where anti-India propaganda is evident. While critics may see this as a politicisation of education, AIU said the appeal is rooted in protecting India's core values and national interest. 'India's academic institutions stand united in condemnation of terrorism,' the letter declared.
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