Latest news with #TurkishAirForce
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First Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
PM Sharif to meet Prez Erdogan today as shadow of India-Pak tensions, boycott of Turkish businesses looms
Turkish support for Pakistani military during its tensions with India reportedly included supplying over 350 military drones and deploying operatives to assist Pakistan's forces. India has lodged diplomatic protests regarding this, and Turkish businesses have been boycotted. read more (File) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharid and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are set to meet on Sunday. Image courtesy: Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will hold talks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul on Sunday (May 25), as diplomatic and economic tensions with India escalate over Ankara's recent support for Islamabad during heightened India-Pakistan hostilities. Fahrettin Altun, Erdoğan's head of communications, confirmed via social media platform X that the leaders would discuss 'bilateral relations, regional and international issues, including the fight against terrorism.' Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, bugün İstanbul'daki Dolmabahçe Çalışma Ofisinde Pakistan Başbakanı Sayın Şahbaz Şerif'i kabul edeceklerdir. Sayın Cumhurbaşkanımızın Sayın Şerif'i kabulünde, Türkiye-Pakistan ikili ilişkileri çeşitli veçheleriyle değerlendirilecek;… — Fahrettin Altun (@fahrettinaltun) May 25, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Turkey's relations with India The meeting takes place against the backdrop of Turkey's increasingly assertive role in South Asian geopolitics. Relations with India deteriorated sharply following Turkey's overt backing of Pakistan during recent tensions stemming from the deadly April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists. In retaliation, India initiated military operations dubbed 'Operation Sindoor,' targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In response to these developments, Erdoğan publicly expressed solidarity with Pakistan, praising Islamabad's 'calm and restrained' stance and echoing its call for an independent investigation into the incident. Turkish support for Pakistan reportedly included supplying over 350 military drones and deploying operatives to assist Pakistan's military capabilities during the escalation. Additionally, Turkish military activities, such as a naval warship docking at Karachi port and the delivery of arms via a Turkish Air Force C-130 aircraft, have drawn sharp criticism from India. India responded vigorously to Turkey's involvement. New Delhi lodged diplomatic protests through its Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), strongly cautioning Ankara about respecting mutual sensitivities , especially concerning terrorism-related issues. Indian consumers and businesses launched economic boycotts of Turkish products, notably halting marble imports worth Rs 3,000 crore (approximately $360 million). India also revoked the security clearance of Turkish aviation firm Çelebi and is reviewing partnerships involving IndiGo and Turkish Airlines. With inputs from agencies
New Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Turkish firm operating in Indian airports loses security clearance amid Turkey's support for Pakistan
The Turkish firm that handles services at nine major airports in India lost its security clearance following Turkey's support to Pakistan over Operation Sindoor. Celebi Ground Handling India Private Limited, a Turkey-based company had its security clearance revoked with immediate effect following an order from the Civil Aviation Ministry. In its order, the ministry said that the service is being revoked 'in the interest of national security.' The company handles baggage clearance in nine airports, including Mumbai and Bengaluru. Turkey shares close links with Pakistan through trade banking and tourism. The military of all three nations are also dependent on each other. Following Operation Sindoor, Turkey was found to have offered more than just verbal support. A large number of drones used against India were identified as Turkey-made - the Asisguard SONGAR and the Bayraktar TB2, an unmanned combat aerial vehicle. Ahead of Operation Sindoor, a Turkish warship had docked in Karachi, followed shortly by the landing of a Turkish Air Force C-130 in the city. After Turkey offered support for Pakistan, the nation has been facing a massive backlash, including crack down on trade and tourism. Following the incident, Indian tourists are canceling trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan in large numbers to both Turkey and Azerbaijan. As per data provided by leading travel portal MakeMyTrip (MMT), bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey have come down by 60%, while cancellations have increased by 250% in the past one week. On Wednesday, Jawaharlal Nehru University had cancelled tie-ups with Turkey's educational institution. Many travel websites are cancelling or not accepting Turkey itineraries. This is expected to hit the nation that earns 12 per cent of its revenue through tourism.
New Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Turkish firm loses security clearance amid backlash against Turkey following support to Pakistan
The Turkish firm that handles services at nine major airports in India lost its security clearance following Turkey's support to Pakistan over Operation Sindoor. Celebi Ground Handling India Private Limited, a Turkey-based company had its security clearance revoked with immediate effect following an order from the Civil Aviation Ministry. In its order, the ministry said that the service is being revoked 'in the interest of national security.' The company handles baggage clearance in nine airports, including Mumbai and Bengaluru. Turkey shares close links with Pakistan through trade banking and tourism. The military of all three nations are also dependent on each other. Following Operation Sindoor, Turkey was found to have offered more than just verbal support. A large number of drones used against India were identified as Turkey-made - the Asisguard SONGAR and the Bayraktar TB2, an unmanned combat aerial vehicle. Ahead of Operation Sindoor, a Turkish warship had docked in Karachi, followed shortly by the landing of a Turkish Air Force C-130 in the city. After Turkey offered support for Pakistan, the nation has been facing a massive backlash, including crack down on trade and tourism. Following the incident, Indian tourists are canceling trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan in large numbers to both Turkey and Azerbaijan. As per data provided by leading travel portal MakeMyTrip (MMT), bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey have come down by 60%, while cancellations have increased by 250% in the past one week. On Wednesday, Jawaharlal Nehru University had cancelled tie-ups with Turkey's educational institution. Many travel websites are cancelling or not accepting Turkey itineraries. This is expected to hit the nation that earns 12 per cent of its revenue through tourism.
India Today
15-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Erdogan unmoved by boycott-Turkey calls, backs true brother Pakistan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has doubled down on the Turkey-Pakistan brotherhood despite a growing call in India to boycott everything Turkish. Turkey not only provided Pakistan with military drones, but also operatives in its latest confrontation with India."As in the past, we will continue to stand by you in good times and bad in the future," said Erdogan, responding to a message from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Turkish Air Force C-130 aircraft and a warship reached Pakistan even as temperatures soared after India vowed justice to the families of the 26 people killed by Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22. As India struck terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) as part of Operation Sindoor, the Islamabad-Rawalpindi establishment attempted to hit Indian military and civilian tried to swarm India's aerial defences with Turkish drones. It reportedly used Bayraktar TB2 and YIHA drones against what added to the anger of Indians was that Turkey not only supplied military hardware but Turkish operatives Turkish military operatives were killed as part of Operation Sindoor, sources told India Today hashtag BoycottTurkey has been trending in India, as Indians feel betrayed. India conducted Operation Dost to rush in aid to Turkey after the massive 2023 earthquake, but it returned the favour with drones to are cancelling trips to Turkey and calling for a boycott of Turkish products. From politicians and actors to military veterans, everyone is lending voice to the "Boycott Turkey" as tourist booking cancellations to Turkey or Turkiye rose by 250%, Indian corporates promised to shun Ankara, JNU suspended an agreement with a Turkish university, and film producers announced a boycott of the country for film Erdogan seems to be far from bothered with calls for a boycott echoing in India. He responded to Sharif's post in Turkish, highlighting the strong brotherhood."The Turkey-Pakistan brotherhood, which is granted to very few nations in the world, is one of the finest examples of true friendship. As Turkey, we attach great importance to Pakistan's peace, tranquility, and stability," said naming India or the recent conflict, he lauded Pakistan's "sensible policy" and its focus on "reconciliation"."We greatly appreciate the Pakistani state's sensible, patient policy that prioritises dialogue and reconciliation in resolving disputes," wrote ended the post with -- "Long live Pakistan-Turkey friendship!"Shehbaz Sharif had written to thank Erdogan for the strong support shown by Turkey. Though the conflict with India wasn't mentioned, it was apparent what he was referring to, especially due to the choice of the word "challenge".advertisement"My dear brother President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's strong support and unwavering solidarity with Pakistan have deeply touched me," wrote Sharif."Pakistan takes pride in its long-standing, time-tested, and enduring fraternal ties with Turkiye, which grow stronger with each new challenge," he India's Operation Sindoor, Ankara had been actively supporting Pakistan, both militarily and diplomatically. Not just Turkey, Azerbaijan too supported Pakistan and condemned India's strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and found a helping hand in Turkish military hardware and personnel. Whether it was the Asisguard Songar, Bayraktar TB2, or YIHA drones, Pakistan's "iron brother" Turkey actively enabled Islamabad's offensive against has emerged as Pakistan's second-largest arms supplier after China, providing advanced weaponry like Bayraktar TB2 and Asisguard Songar drones, MILGEM-class corvettes, and upgrades for Pakistan's F-16 jets and Agosta 90B and Turkey have a robust military relationship, which has its based in Islamic brotherhood ideology and strategic interests. This has often positioned Ankara against India, including the Kashmir dispute.
Economic Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Not just travel: India pressing Turkey's many pain points
Indian travellers are punishing Turkey by boycotting the popular tourist destination for Turkey's open support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Turkey actively helped Pakistan in combat against India. The Pakistani army fired Turkish drones at 36 locations in India. A Turkish naval warship arrived at Karachi port right before India's strike and just days after a Turkish Air Force C-130 aircraft landed in the city. There were also reports of Turkish aircraft delivering weapons to Pakistan. Though Turkey and Pakistan have a history of military collaboration and Turkey has also been selling weapons to Pakistan, supply of weapons and a warship visit during conflict with India point at Turkey's open support to Pakistan against on Wednesday blocked the official X account of Turkish state broadcaster TRT World for spreading before the boycott of Turkey by Indian travellers and the government's ban on its state media, India had started countering Turkey with various strategic, diplomatic and trade moves for its support to Pakistan, particularly on the Kashmir issue. Erdogan has repeatedly raised the Kashmir issue at international platforms, notably at the UN General Assembly, including during and after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. India is already pressing Turkey's various pain points. Also Read | How did Turkey's Ukrainian war hero drones, fail against india? India's strategic moves against TurkeyErdogan's open support for Pakistan on Kashmir has led to a significant downturn in Indo-Turkish relations. In response, India has undertaken a multi-pronged diplomatic and strategic counter-offensive, sharpening its foreign policy to engage with Turkey's regional opponents and ally with bigger powers in the region. India has done a realignment of partnerships aimed at counterbalancing Turkish influence. This includes fostering closer ties with Turkey's geopolitical and historical opponents: Greece, Armenia and Cyprus. In recent years, India has significantly deepened defense and strategic ties with Greece. In 2023, Indian Air Force fighter jets participated in joint exercises with the Hellenic Air Force in the Mediterranean, signaling growing military cooperation. The two nations have also discussed maritime security and are exploring naval collaboration in the Eastern Mediterranean — a region where Turkey's maritime ambitions have caused friction with Greece and the most direct signal of India's counter-strategy came with the sale of Indian-made weapons to Armenia, including the PINAKA multi-barrel rocket launcher systems, anti-tank missiles and radar systems. These deals mark India's first major defense exports to the South Caucasus, a region where Turkey has backed Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia which has welcomed India's involvement, seeing it as a counterbalance to Turkish-Azerbaijan a decisive move to distance itself from military cooperation with Turkey, India in 2023 cancelled a planned naval shipbuilding deal with a Turkish defense firm. The project, which would have seen Turkish involvement in the modernization of Indian naval vessels, was scrapped over national security concerns. The cancellation was widely interpreted as a direct response to Erdogan's repeated anti-India stance. Also Read | Indians boycott Turkey, Azerbaijan for backing Pakistan after Operation Sindoor India's diplomatic counter to ErdoganIndia has invested heavily in deepening ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — two regional powers that Erdogan has frequently antagonized through his support for Islamist movements like the Muslim Brotherhood and his ambition to lead the Muslim India-UAE relationship has grown into a robust strategic partnership. The signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022 laid the foundation for expanding bilateral trade, defense cooperation and energy collaboration. The two nations have also conducted joint military exercises and counterterrorism training, indicating shared strategic interests. India's relations with Saudi Arabia have reached unprecedented levels, with increased collaboration in energy security, defense and infrastructure. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's vision of economic diversification under 'Vision 2030' aligns well with India's growth trajectory, offering mutually beneficial investment opportunities. Erdogan's ambition to position Turkey as the leader of the Muslim world has led to deteriorating ties with the traditional Arab powerhouses in the Gulf. His support for the Muslim Brotherhood, criticism of the Abraham Accords, and interventions in Syria and Libya have widened the rift between Turkey and Saudi Arabia and the UAE. India has capitalized on this rift. By aligning with the Gulf powerhouses and their vision of a post-oil, economically diversified Middle East, India has positioned itself as a reliable partner in the region. India's response to Erdogan's hostile stance is part of its larger foreign policy doctrine under Prime Minister Narendra Modi — pragmatic and multi-aligned. India's willingness to diplomatically engage with Turkey's opponents reflects its recognition of the changing balance of power in the region. India's participation in forums like the India-France-UAE trilateral, and its increasing visibility in the Eastern Mediterranean through naval deployments, are signals of its willingness to act as a regional counter against Turkish ambitions. Unlike boycotts by Indian travellers, India's counter to Erdogan's provocations is not impulsive retaliation but a calculated diplomatic and strategic response. By forging alliances with Turkey's regional adversaries and enhancing ties with Gulf partners, India is neutralizing Turkey's attempts to internationalize the Kashmir issue. Erdogan's rhetoric against India and his support to Pakistan may continue, but India's consistent actions will ensure Turkey's anti-India moves do not have any deep traction in the region.
