After JNU and Jamia, Punjab's LPU, Hyderabad's MANUU and Kanpur University cut ties with Turkish institutions
Several Indian universities have suspended academic collaborations with Turkish institutions, citing national security concerns. After central universities like JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia, now some other universities have also ended their tie-ups with Turkish institutions. Lovely Professional University (
LPU
), Hyderabad's Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Kanpur University, and Jamia Millia Islamia have ended Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Turkish partners. This follows Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) earlier decision to cut ties with Turkey's Inonu University after Turkey and Azerbaijan publicly backed Pakistan following India's recent military operation in Pahalgam.
Lovely Professional University announced the immediate termination of all academic collaborations with institutions in Turkey and Azerbaijan. The decision includes the suspension of student and faculty exchange programmes, joint research projects, and dual degree initiatives.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and founder chancellor of LPU, said, 'When our brave armed forces are risking their lives—whether in covert operations, air defence, or patrolling our borders—we, as an institution, cannot remain indifferent.'
MANUU ends MoU with Turkish cultural institute
On Thursday, Hyderabad-based MANUU cancelled its five-year MoU with the Yunus Emre Institute, a cultural body affiliated with the Turkish government. The university stated the decision was made due to Turkey's public support for Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam.
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'The decision has been taken in protest against Turkey's support for Pakistan's terrorist activities in the context of Indo-Pak tensions,' the university said in an official press release.
Kanpur University follows suit
Kanpur University also terminated its MoU with Istanbul University on the same day. The university said the action was in direct response to Turkey's position on India's territorial issues.
'This move is a direct consequence of Turkey assuming a critical geopolitical stance to join hands with a nation which is openly hostile to India's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' the university was quoted as saying by India Today.
JNU and Jamia take similar steps
Jawaharlal Nehru University was among the first to act. On Wednesday, it suspended its MoU with Inonu University, Turkey, citing security concerns.
'Due to national security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University stands suspended until further notice. JNU stands with the nation,' the university stated on its official X handle.
Soon after, Jamia Millia Islamia suspended all its MoUs with Turkish institutions. Speaking to ANI, Professor Saima Saeed, PRO of Jamia, said, 'We have suspended all MoUs with institutions affiliated with Turkey. Jamia stands with the nation and the Government of India.'
AIU advisory and wider impact
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has issued an advisory urging institutions across India to review academic collaborations with Pakistan, Turkey, and Bangladesh.
The developments have extended beyond academia. According to The Times of India, travel portal MakeMyTrip has reported a 60% drop in bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan, with cancellations up by 250%. The company has removed promotional content for travel to both countries.
In the film industry, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has called on Indian filmmakers to avoid Turkey as a location for shooting. 'We must not collaborate with countries that support anti-India sentiments,' FWICE said in a statement.
Separately, the Indian government has revoked security clearance for Celebi Airport Services, a Turkish ground-handling firm operating in major airports across Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa, and Hyderabad.
National sentiment reflected in academic decisions
The suspension of ties marks a shift in how Indian academic institutions are aligning with national interests during international disputes. Universities have made it clear that they consider geopolitical factors in their global partnerships.
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An unforeseen consequence of Operation Sindoor has been that South Asia's two poster boys of dynastic democracy surfaced and made fools of themselves. I speak of Bilawal Bhutto and Rahul Gandhi. They would not be considered political leaders at all if it were not for their illustrious surnames. As someone who believes dynastic succession should have ended when feudalism did, I watched the performance of these two political princes with real interest. The first performance came from Bilawal Bhutto, who made a speech on the banks of the Indus a day after India decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty. In this speech, he threatened that either water would flow down the Indus or the 'blood of our enemies'. His Urdu remains bad, so he used melodrama to compensate and, in the manner of a crazed messiah, shrieked 'the Indus has always been ours, is ours, and will be ours'. 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Rahul has, since Operation Sindoor, made statements that have been applauded in Pakistan even by Hafiz Saeed. But last week, he outdid himself. In the manner of a schoolboy discussing a cricket match, and with a sneery grin on his face, he imitated Donald Trump having a conversation with our prime minister on the phone and saying 'Narendra, Surrender'. And then he mimicked Narendra Modi saying 'ji huzoor'. The point the Leader of the Opposition was trying to make was that when his grandmother was prime minister, the Seventh Fleet was sent by Richard Nixon to warn her that breaking up Pakistan would have consequences. And she had courageously remained fixed on the course that she had set. A dangerous analogy to evoke, because Indira Gandhi also ended up snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (to use that useful cliché) by signing the Simla Agreement. All the cards were in India's hands. 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