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The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
From Strategic Rift to Shared Roots: Rethinking India–Türkiye Relations Amid Rising Tensions
Published : May 24, 2025 16:46 IST - 8 MINS READ The recent stand-off between India and Pakistan has taken an unusual turn—with Türkiye unexpectedly finding itself in the crosshairs of Indian ire. Reports of the use of Turkish-made drones by Pakistan and Ankara's silence on the incident triggered a wave of backlash in India. Although the Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attacks on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22, there were calls for a boycott of Turkish products. Turkish coffee, Turkish companies, and even tourism became the unexpected victims of this diplomatic row. But behind the jingoism and diplomatic tit-for-tat lies a much older relationship based not on animosity but on solidarity. To reduce relations between India and Türkiye to a mere by-product of ties between Islamabad and Ankara would be to ignore centuries of cultural exchange, civilisational kinship, and anti-colonial camaraderie. Following the Pahalgam attack, India's retaliatory response, Operation Sindoor, targeted terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. News emerged from New Delhi that 300-400 drones used by Pakistan were allegedly supplied by Türkiye, sparking outrage. However, military officials who have seen debris of these drones deny that the military drones were of Turkish origin. They were clearly of Chinese origin. Although Türkiye has a lethal arsenal of Bayraktar TB2 or TB3 military drones, which have proved effective in blocking the advance of Russian troops in Ukraine and in wars in Syria, Libya, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, and elsewhere, Pakistan has, apparently, not used them. It has relied on Chinese drones for offensive purposes and smaller Turkish Songar drones for self-defence, which are made in Pakistan. Also Read | The Kurdish issue is largely a legacy of World War I: Mehmet Öztürk But images of Turkish warships docking in Karachi and a Turkish military aircraft landing in Islamabad have sparked anger in India. Sources in Ankara told Frontline that on May 7, as tensions threatened to escalate into a full-blown war between India and Pakistan, Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan convened a meeting of close advisers and members of his ruling AK Party to deal with South Asian affairs. 'The meeting lasted only 10 minutes and contained a clear message from the President to urge restraint and ensure peace in the region,' the source said. Sources in Ankara and Istanbul say that while peaceful relations between India and Pakistan are in line with Türkiye's strategic interests, in the event of a full-blown war, the country would have no option but to support Pakistan, given its military ties. In the past, Pakistan's air force, in particular, has come to Türkiye's aid—be it in the 1973 Cyprus conflict with Greece or recent conflicts in Syria. India has urged both China and Türkiye to respect its sensitivities. 'We expect Türkiye to urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism,' said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Former ambassador Sanjay Bhattacharyya was more explicit: 'Erdoğan's 'brotherly' support to Pakistan after the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam was not only unfriendly to India but also extremely provocative.' However, he added that India should also avoid similar missteps, noting that Türkiye prioritises national interests and its role in global affairs. The reactions were not just official. Social media campaigns, tourist cancellations, and trade fears spread. According to trade data, India imports technical goods, electronics, and chemicals from Türkiye. However, experts such as Misafir Kalem warn against emotional reactions: 'Türkiye accounts for 0.2 per cent of India's total imports.' The flow of tourists from India accounts for 0.6 per cent of Türkiye's total. If Türkiye retaliates, it could hurt the Indian economy more, as about 200 blue-chip Indian companies have offices in Istanbul, Izmir, and Antalya to conduct business in Europe. As a member of the European Customs Union, Türkiye provides affordability that helps Indian firms save costs. A legacy of solidarity The emotional resonance of recent tensions has overshadowed the deep civilisational bond between the two regions, which have remained isolated for the past 100 years. From 15th-century Ottoman-Mughal correspondence to shared Sufi traditions and linguistic roots, the Indo-Turkish connection is deeply rooted. In 1912, during the Balkan Wars, the Indian nationalist Dr M.A. Ansari, who later became President of the Indian National Congress, led a medical mission to treat wounded Turkish soldiers. His team included Abdur Rahman Samdani alias Peshawari, a student of Aligarh University, who sold his belongings to reach Türkiye. He stayed, fought in Gallipoli, became the first reporter for the Anadolu Agency, and later served as Türkiye's ambassador to Afghanistan. Coming from a family that had emigrated to Peshawar from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, his younger brother Mohammad Yunus Khan was a Gandhi family loyalist and held top positions in India, including ambassador to various countries and head of the India Trade Promotion Organisation. Gandhi's affinity Mahatma Gandhi was also deeply moved by the Turkish War of Independence. The Treaty of Sèvres and the planned dismemberment of Türkiye prompted him to launch a movement of non-cooperation against the British. The funds raised in India for Türkiye helped establish IşBankası, one of the country's largest banks. In the June 21, 1920, issue of Young India, Gandhi appealed to Hindus to join Muslims in the fight against the dismemberment of Türkiye. Few realise that Turkic was used as a trade route until the early 20th century. Ladakh, an important junction of the Silk Road, connected South Asia with Turkestan and China. The Argon Muslims in Leh—descendants of Turkic traders—still preserve names, customs, and artefacts from Central Asia. A museum near the 17th-century Tsa Soma Mosque in Leh commemorates this heritage, with relics such as Yarkandi carpets and Ottoman manuscripts. According to Salim Beg, former Director General of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Authority, Leh was an important trading centre for Turkic nations in Central Asia. 'Hadud-e-Alam, a Persian manuscript from the 9th century, mentions Ladakh's trade relations with neighbouring countries and reveals that people from East Turkistan travelled to Makkah for Hajj via Leh,' he said. Beg, who is also a historian and Chairperson of the Art and Cultural Heritage Trust, said the Turkic language had established itself as a lingua franca and gained popularity in Leh and Nubra, a village on the Leh-Yarkand road. Turkish-Aragonese explorer Ghulam Rasul Galwan, whose name adorns the Galwan Valley, and Sultan Said Khan, after whom Daulat Beg Oldi is named, symbolise this historical amalgamation. To re-establish relations, Ankara hosted a two-day international conference titled India and Türkiye: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives a few months ago. Ambassador Muktesh Pardeshi referred to shared Sufi traditions, 9,000 common words in Hindi and Turkish, and a shared desire for peace. 'Let's not look at each other through the lens of conflicts between third parties,' he said. Türkiye's Deputy Foreign Minister Beris Ekinci echoed this optimism. 'From the Silk Road to the struggles for independence, Türkiye and India have a long history together,' she said. 'But our relations today must be based on future potential, not just historical affinity.' She emphasised the need for cooperation in forums such as the United Nations and the G20, citing infrastructure, space exploration, e-commerce, and renewable energy as priority sectors. C. Raja Mohan, a strategic affairs expert, added a note of realism and urgency: 'We must not allow historical baggage to affect future potential. India and Türkiye are both influential regional powers; it is time we talked to each other directly.' While Türkiye's repeated references to Kashmir at the United Nations and the OIC have angered India, New Delhi has in return backed Armenia's claims, sided with Cyprus and Greece on issues contested by Türkiye, and even stepped up military engagement with Ankara's Mediterranean rivals. These diplomatically understandable moves have often taken precedence over long-term considerations. Türkiye is perhaps the only country with a dedicated channel, Kanal TV, that broadcasts Indian programmes round the clock—a powerful symbol of solidarity. But the recent boycotts are threatening these bridges. Veteran diplomat M.K. Bhadrakumar, who remembers his years in Ankara, warned against reactive diplomacy: 'Meet them with maturity and they will respond with warmth. We have to remember: it's about the economy, stupid.' 'The military relationship between Türkiye and Pakistan is real, but not nearly as threatening as China's growing strategic embrace of Pakistan. India must not allow its emotional impulses to cloud strategic judgement,' he said. Diplomats in Ankara told Frontline that given Türkiye's rising global profile, it is almost impossible to ignore the country. For example, Türkiye has positioned itself as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine and is simultaneously seen as a friend of both countries. Syria is one of Türkiye's major foreign policy successes. Observers say those who ignore its presence and influence in Libya, Azerbaijan, Africa, and more recently the Gulf, do so at their own peril. Despite the setback related to the $2.3 billion naval deal with TAIS and Türkiye's silence after the Pahalgam conflict, both nations have much to gain. Also Read | An ill-judged arrest in Türkiye spurs largest anti-Erdoğan protests in over a decade Türkiye is emerging as a Eurasian hub, mediating in Ukraine, investing in Syria and Libya, and engaging in Africa and Central Asia. For India to gain a foothold globally and expand its economy, a reorientation of foreign policy away from reactive diplomacy is required. With the ghosts of the Great Game lingering in Ladakh and the memory of Gandhi's moral compass guiding Indian diplomacy, the real test is yet to come. Türkiye is not just a friend of Pakistan; India is not just an ally of Greece and Armenia—it is time to change the script. Instead of 'boycott Türkiye', the call must be to engage, rebuild, and renew. Both India and Türkiye are now key regional powers in search of a new role in the global order. The emotional bonds forged a century ago—between Gandhi and Atatürk, Ansari and Peshawari—provide a moral compass, but not a roadmap. As Prof. Aftab Kamal Pasha put it: 'Ancient civilisations cannot afford to be defined by transient conflicts. They must forge their destiny through a renewed exchange, not a reclusive memory.' Iftikhar Gilani is an Indian journalist based in Ankara.
Al Arabiya
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Turkey's Erdogan says unseating of mayors to be rare after PKK disbands
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday he believes Turkey's practice of appointing state 'trustees' to replace elected mayors will become a rare occurrence once the PKK militant group acts on its decision to disband. Erdogan was speaking to lawmakers from his AK Party in has repeatedly unseated and replaced dozens of elected pro-Kurdish party mayors after recent elections over alleged PKK links. It has also replaced mayors from the main opposition party.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kurdish PKK militia to disband for Turkey talks
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said Monday that it will disband and disarm after four decades of armed conflict with Turkey. The decision was announced through the Firat News Agency, a media outlet close to the PKK, after a party congress in northern Iraq. Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called for his group to disband in February, and the PKK declared a ceasefire March 1, on condition that Turkey create a legal framework for peace talks. "The PKK has completed its historic mission" and "decided to dissolve" its "organizational structure" and "end the armed struggle," the group said in a statement Monday morning. The decision "promises to put an end to one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East," The Associated Press said. It should have "far-reaching political and security consequences for the region, including in neighboring Iraq and also in Syria, where Kurdish forces are allied with U.S. forces," Reuters said. The insurgency, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives since 1984, also "handicapped the regional economy for decades." Omer Celik, a spokesperson for Turkey's ruling AK Party, said the PKK's decision was an "important step toward a terror-free Turkey." "Details of the peace initiative have not been made public," including what will happen to the PKK's fighters, "how weapons would be disposed of and who would monitor" the process, the AP said. "Previous peace efforts between Turkey and the group — most recently in 2015 — have ended with failure."
Asharq Al-Awsat
12-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Turkish Stocks Jump as PKK Disbandment Adds to Trade Relief
Turkish stocks jumped on Monday, bonds climbed and the lira rallied against the euro as news the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group was ending its four decade-long insurgency in the country added to US-China trade cheer. Global share markets were enjoying a strong surge after the US and China agreed to slash tariffs, but Turkish equities outstripped most other bourses as they jumped more than 3%. A PKK member said it was ceasing all military operations "immediately" following the group's decision to disband, a move that could boost NATO member Türkiye's political and economic stability. The lira was up 1.3% against the euro and steady against the dollar, while its international market bonds, which have been losing ground for the last six months, were up nearly 0.7 cents. The PKK decision followed an appeal from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan in February to disband. It is set to have far-reaching political and security consequences for the region, including in neighboring Iraq and also in Syria, where Kurdish forces are allied with US forces. Omer Celik, spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party, said the PKK's decision to dissolve was "an important step toward a terror-free Türkiye". There have been intermittent peace efforts over the years, most notably a ceasefire between 2013 and 2015 that ultimately collapsed. The PKK's move should now give Erdogan the opportunity to boost spending in the mainly Kurdish southeast of Türkiye, where the insurgency has handicapped the regional economy for decades. Analysts welcomed the PKK move but added a note of caution. "It can only be good news," said Christopher Granville, managing director of EMEA & Global Political Research at investment advisory firm TS Lombard. "But is it decisive for the difficult Turkish investment case?" He said the PKK issue was ultimately "secondary" to questions about Türkiye's recent arrest of Erdogan's main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, and the broader direction of its macroeconomic policy. Those concerns have weighed on Turkish markets this year. MSCI's Türkiye equities index is down more than 13% compared to a near 8% rise in its pan-emerging market index., while lira-denominated government bonds have cost investors more than 8% on a total returns basis. The cost of insuring Ankara's government debt using Credit Default Swaps (CDS) has also shot up, although Monday's rally saw that ease back. "A continuation of the pullback (in CDS levels) ... may support banking stocks, which have been the negatively differentiated sector in BIST (Turkish stocks index) in the last 2 months," Garanti BBVA Yatirim's Director Ozgur Yurtdasseven said. Turkish banking stocks were up 3.8% on the day, but remain more than 16% down on the year in lira terms and more than 20% in dollar terms.
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Kurdish separatist group PKK ends 40-year war against Turkey
A separatist Kurdish group agreed to lay down arms to end a 40-year war for autonomy against Turkey, an historic step that could strengthen Ankara's aspirations to become a regional powerhouse. The PKK agreed to disarm and disband at a congress last week, the pro-Kurdish ANF news agency reported Monday, after declaring a ceasefire on March 1. That heralded the end of one of the world's longest and bloodiest insurgencies. The PKK's campaign has "led the Kurdish issue to the point of solution via democratic politics," the ANF cited a statement from the congress as saying. "In this respect, the PKK has completed its historical mission." The decision could enable Turkey to shift its focus from a decades-long fight against the group's militants - both inside and out of the country - to helping rebuild war-ravaged Syria. That would be in line with U.S. goals to stabilize the region, and help ease tensions between Washington and Ankara, as the PKK was affiliated with U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces. Erdogan has been working toward resolving the Kurdish conflict to thwart what he saw as the growing threat of Kurdish nationalism in the region. If the disarmament holds, it could boost Turkey's aspirations to reshape the Middle East and burnish support for the president as he seeks to rewrite the constitution and extend his two-decade long rule. Turkey is now facing the question of how to address demands from the PKK and the pro-Kurdish DEM party to improve rights for the ethnic group. They are calling for recognition of Kurdish identity and culture in the country's constitution and permission for Kurdish language teaching in schools, alongside the devolution of more powers to local authorities in Turkey's Kurdish majority southeast. The PKK said "it's important for parliament to play its role with a historic responsibility" - an apparent reference to the demands. Kurds make up almost a fifth of Turkey's 90 million population. It's unclear whether Turkey will offer safe passage for the PKK's leadership to third countries or declare amnesty for thousands of militants if they return home. The group said its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, should lead the political process, according to the statement. Turkey expects PKK representatives in Syria to leave the country and all the group's militants, including those based in Iraq, to surrender their weapons. "This process will be meticulously monitored in the field by our state institutions," Omer Celik, a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party, said on X. "If terrorism ends completely, the door to a new era will open." Ocalan founded the PKK - the Kurdistan Workers' Party - in Turkey's Kurdish-dominated southeast in 1978, with a manifesto that combined socialist economic principles with demands for Kurdish autonomy. The conflict has exacted a heavy toll on Turkey, costing an estimated $400 billion and killing 40,000 people – most of them Kurds – since the group took up arms in 1984. The casualties included militants, soldiers, policemen as well as civilians. Urban centers such as Istanbul and Ankara have been repeatedly targeted in PKK-linked bombings, eroding public confidence and contributing to security concerns that weighed on tourism, investment and domestic political cohesion. Mehmet Ucum, one of Erdogan's top advisers who has been working on a new constitution, said "Kurds, as an inseparable part of the Turkish Nation, are the founders and perpetual owners of the Republic of Turkey." "The new era will strengthen Turkey in every aspect," Ucum said in a post on X. "Comprehensive reforms in democracy and the rule of law will be implemented." ---------- -With assistance from Beril Akman, Taylan Bilgic and Patrick Sykes. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
