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Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Indians sour on Turkey, Azerbaijan after conflict
India's relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey are facing significant strain in the aftermath of New Delhi's military confrontation with Pakistan. Both nations have long been perceived as close diplomatic partners of Islamabad, a fact that has complicated and strained ties with India. Over the last week, calls to boycott travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey have grown. On Wednesday, JNU announced it would end an academic agreement with Turkey's Inonu University citing national security concerns. The immediate trigger for these tensions was the diplomatic stance taken by Baku and Ankara after India launched military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. Both countries expressed solidarity and support with Islamabad. 'We condemn military attacks against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan that killed and injured several civilians. Being in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, we express condolences to the families of the innocent victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured,' said the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan on May 7 after India launched Operation Sindoor. Turkey expressed similar sentiments and condemned India's military operations. Also Read | Indians cancel trips to Turkey, Azerbaijan after countries back Pakistan Matters were further complicated by the Indian military's revelation that Turkish made Asisguard Songar drones were used by Pakistan to overwhelm Indian air defences. However, these tensions have been long in the making, said Kabir Taneja, Deputy Director of Strategic Studies at the Observer Research Foundation. India has long been concerned about Turkey and Azerbaijan's relationship with Pakistan, particularly their support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. In February this year, the Ministry of External Affairs condemned remarks by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Kashmir. The Turkish leader's insistence on raising the Kashmir issue at international forums, including the United Nations, has repeatedly sparked tensions with India. Also Read | Amid 'boycott Turkey' calls, what President Erdogan said after India-Pakistan ceasefire: 'Will continue to…' Both Turkey and Azerbaijan maintain close military ties with Pakistan as well. In 2021, the three countries launched the 'Three Brothers' joint military exercise in an effort to enhance military cooperation and interoperability. The Baku Declaration of 2021 outlined plans for closer intelligence, military, economic and connectivity partnerships between the three nations. Included in the declaration was a commitment that three sides would back each other diplomatically in territorial disputes, including on Kashmir. 'The relationship between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan has been around for a while. Politically, Turkey and Azerbaijan put their weight behind Pakistan. However, they're not investing heavily in Pakistan's economy. It is definitely a geopolitical construct that is a problem for India. But is it a big problem for India on the international level? I don't think so. However, it is India's job to push back diplomatically,' Taneja said. India's response has been to work more closely with Iran and Armenia, two nations that have also been concerned about the rise of this new coalition. Armenia has fought a series of bitter territorial conflicts with Azerbaijan in recent decades. India has built a closer military relationship with Armenia and lucrative deals have been signed for Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS), Swathi Weapon Locating Radars and Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers. Armenia's Defence Minister met with India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in 2022 in pursuit of a closer defence partnership. Senior leaders from Armenia have also become regular features at the Raisina Dialogue, an annual geopolitical conference held in partnership with India's Ministry of External Affairs. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has condemned India's arms sales to Armenia, which has only added to tensions between New Delhi and Baku.
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First Post
10-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Terrorist launchpad opposite to Jammu in Pakistan's Sialkot destroyed, says BSF
At a time when Pakistan has escalated the conflict with India with missiles, drones, and ground attacks, the Border Security Force (BSF) has said that it destroyed a terrorist launcpad in Sialkot opposite to Jammu region's Akhnoor area read more Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers patrol near the India Pakistan border fencing at Garkhal in Akhnoor, about 35 kilometers west of Jammu, August 13, 2019. File Photo/AP The Border Security Force (BSF) has said it destroyed a terrorist launchpad in Pakistan's Sialkot. The development comes at a time when India and Pakistan are locked in an exchange of fire since last evening. While Pakistan launched drones on Friday evening, it escalated with attacks across northern and western India with missiles and warplanes. One ballistic missile, which was intercepted, is understood to have been launched at Delhi. India in response struck at least three Pakistani airbases. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a statement on Saturday morning, the BSF said that after Pakistan began unprovoked cross-border fire at BSF posts in the Jammu region around 9 pm on Friday, the BSF responded and destroyed a terrorist launchpad across the border. 'BSF responded in a commensurate manner, causing widespread damage to the posts and assets of the Pakistan Rangers along the International Boundary. The terrorist lanch pad at Looni, district Sialkot, opposite Akhnoor area was completely destroyed by the BSF,' the statement read. Since last night, Pakistan has targeted Indian military bases at Udhampur, Pathankot, Jammu, and Adampur. Pakistan has also claimed to have struck storage sites of Brahmos missiles. In yet another escalation, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday morning called a meeting of National Command Authority (NCA), the top decision-making body on the country's nuclear weapons. Kabir Taneja, a counterterrorism expert at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), said on X that it appears to be a sign of desperation. When Pakistan starts sabre rattling the nuclear file, as it has now, its being forced on the backfoot and is looking for the international community's urgency to intervene in ongoing confrontations. Textbook. Negotiate with the world with a gun to their own head. — Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) May 10, 2025
The Print
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Pakistan-Turkey defence ties in spotlight post Pahalgam. How they've grown to be strategic allies
However, Pakistani media outlets have reported that the aircraft carried combat equipment—a claim that remains unverified. The Turkish Defense Ministry has reportedly denied claims that arms or ammunition were delivered, terming the recent landings of Turkish C-130 Hercules aircraft in Karachi as only for refueling purposes. New Delhi: As tensions rise between India and Pakistan in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad's deepening defence ties with Turkey are drawing renewed scrutiny. Though both Ankara and Islamabad deny any recent arms transfer, several Turkish military aircraft landings in Pakistan have fueled speculation about covert military support. However, while Turkey and Pakistan may be drawing closer diplomatically and strategically, experts advise separating signal from noise when it comes to military movements and geopolitical messaging—especially during volatile moments like these. Defence analyst and Pakistan military expert Ayesha Siddiqa cautioned against overhyping the developments. 'There is nothing which should make you (India) jump up and down,' she told ThePrint. 'Pakistan and Turkey have good security relations. They are already co-developing fighter aircraft. This is not some Muslim world conspiracy against India,' she added. Kabir Taneja, Deputy Director, Strategic Studies and Fellow, Middle East, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) agreed. Still, the optics and timing of these military movements have amplified suspicions. As India weighs its strategic response to the Pahalgam attack, the quiet, expanding alliance between Pakistan and Turkey signals a broader recalibration in South Asia's security dynamics. Taneja stressed that the broader military balance in the region remains unchanged, shaped primarily by nuclear deterrence rather than conventional capabilities. 'Conventionally, of course, India is much more well equipped. But we've seen this sort of layout…as far as military balance is concerned in Asia, that's decided by deterrence of a nuclear kind, not conventional kind,' he added. Also read: Who is backing Pakistan? India must guard against Turkey & China's dirty games A growing axis: Pakistan, Turkey, and beyond Turkey, China, and Azerbaijan have expressed political and military solidarity with Pakistan in the aftermath of the attack, signaling a tightening regional axis in South Asia. Pakistan's list of steadfast allies has grown thin in recent years, with even close partners like China and Saudi Arabia occasionally diverging from Islamabad on key issues. In contrast, Turkey has emerged as the one ally that has maintained a consistently smooth relationship with Pakistan—both diplomatically and strategically. That's why Ankara's growing defense cooperation with Islamabad is being closely watched in New Delhi, especially in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, according to Washington-based South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman. 'Turkey is the quiet partner that never disappoints. Turkey's growing defense ties with Pakistan will be concerning for New Delhi against the backdrop of the current crisis—and especially as Turkey is a rare country that consistently sides with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue,' Kugelman told ThePrint. The Turkish-Pakistani military relationship has matured into a full-spectrum strategic partnership. Joint ventures span air, naval, and cyber domains. Pakistan is now participating in Turkey's fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet programme alongside Azerbaijan, following Ankara's exclusion from the US-led F-35 program. Previously, Turkish Aerospace Industries upgraded 41 of Pakistan's F-16s in a $75 million deal. Turkish firm ASELSAN also supplied advanced targeting pods for Pakistan's JF-17 jets, while HAVELSAN, a Turkish technology company delivered a full-spectrum electronic warfare training range. In the naval domain, Turkish defence firm STM completed a $350 million mid-life upgrade of Pakistan Navy's Agosta 90B submarines, and the $1.5 billion MILGEM-class corvette project saw two ships built in Karachi. Pakistan's drone arsenal has also benefited from Turkish technology. After US export blocks stalled ATAK helicopter deals, Ankara pivoted to UAV cooperation. In 2023, Turkish drone giant Baykar signed an agreement with Pakistan's National Aerospace Science and Technology Park to jointly develop UAVs, following Pakistan's 2022 acquisition of the battle-tested Bayraktar TB-2 drones. Strategic messaging and Cyber operations The growing defence synergy is not limited to military hardware. Turkish and Pakistani forces regularly hold joint drills, including the elite Ataturk-Jinnah special forces exercises and the Anatolian Eagle air combat training. These exercises are aimed at improving interoperability and showcasing alliance strength, according to a report by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). But cooperation has also extended into the digital realm. A 2022 report by Nordic Monitor alleged that Turkey had helped Pakistan establish a covert cyber army tasked with advancing Islamabad's narrative in Southeast Asia, attacking Indian and US digital platforms, and shielding Pakistani leaders from international criticism. The initiative reportedly began in 2018 with support from Turkish and Pakistani interior ministries under then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, the report said. Turkey's strategic South Asia outreach Turkey's growing strategic footprint in South Asia is part of its broader 'Asia Anew Initiative' launched in 2019. Under this banner, Ankara has not only strengthened ties with Pakistan but also deepened its outreach to Bangladesh. In 2022, Dhaka signed a defence cooperation pact with Turkey, echoing similar moves with China. The Turkish government, for its part, quietly blanket banned arms exports to India in 2024, further underlining its shift toward Islamabad. While officials in Ankara publicly downplay any adversarial posture toward India, their actions suggest a longer-term strategic realignment. While India remains outside this emerging network, experts suggest New Delhi should view these developments as a matter of 'calculation, not concern.' From India's perspective, however, this expanding network should not necessarily be seen as threatening. 'It's not a matter of concern, but of calculation. India should factor it into its strategic planning. With so much happening globally, no one wants to see conflict spiral out of control,' Siddiqa added. She added that Turkey's ambitions in the region aren't limited to Pakistan. 'Under its Asia Anew Initiative, Turkey has been reaching out to other South Asian countries like Bangladesh. So yes, there is potential for more regional cooperation—just not including India.' She, however, dismissed the idea of a military alliance forming against India. 'Turkey's not going to fight a war for Pakistan. It's a strategic partnership that includes business and defence cooperation. That's where it stands,' she said. Taneja agreed. 'Clearly, they have very close bilateral and economic relationships. Turkey has long supported Pakistan's stance on Kashmir, raising the issue at international forums, including the UN General Assembly—moves that have drawn sharp protests from India. So those divisions between Ankara and New Delhi are there,' he said. He also added that while Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the G20 summit in India, there have been few high-level diplomatic exchanges beyond that. Pakistan operates Turkish-made drones and other defense equipment, but beyond that the specifics of any recent military deliveries remain murky. Amid this confusion, experts also caution against overestimating the strategic depth of the Turkey-Pakistan alliance. Economically, the relationship is far from balanced. 'Just Istanbul as a city's economy is as big as Pakistan. So, you know, there's no real comparison other than strategic alignment. Pakistan doesn't have much to offer to Turkey and Turkey knows that as well,' said Taneja. 'Turkey has prioritised deeper economic ties with countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, leaving Pakistan's role mostly confined to symbolic and strategic alignment.' (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Why's Turkey erupting for Ekrem İmamoğlu? He's the biggest threat to Erdoğan yet
South China Morning Post
26-01-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Russia's ‘Afghan Quad' overtures to India hit a China, Pakistan stumbling block
This Week in Asia Politics Published: 8:00am, 27 Jan 2025 Updated: 8:01am, 27 Jan 2025 India is expected to reject Russia 's offer to join the 'Afghan Quad', a coalition that also includes Pakistan and China – in a decision that reflects its unwillingness to engage with rivals on Kabul's future. The four-nation bloc – Iran is the fourth member – was formed with the stated aim of stabilising Afghanistan , a goal aligned with its members' shared regional interests. Yet for India, joining a coalition that includes its long-standing adversary, Pakistan, would clash with its strategic calculus. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope earlier this month that India would join the group, calling it 'the right thing to do in Afghanistan'. He also urged India and Pakistan to address each other's concerns. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said India joining the group would be 'the right thing to do in Afghanistan'. Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service/AP However, Pakistan's involvement is 'an automatic red flag' for India, according to Kabir Taneja, deputy director and fellow at the Observer Research Foundation's Strategic Studies Programme in New Delhi, dismissed the idea of Indian participation, saying Pakistan's involvement was 'an automatic red flag'. He noted Islamabad's historical support for the Taliban, which has long targeted both Indian and US interests in Afghanistan. 'Islamabad would need to do institutional house cleaning first before such a Quad can be effective beyond just a conference,' Taneja said. A Quad divided The 'Afghan Quad' most recently convened on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, holding its third meeting to discuss Afghanistan.
