India Urges Turkey to Press Pakistan on Terrorism, Stresses Mutual Sensitivities
India on Thursday urged Turkey to strongly press Pakistan to end its support for cross-border terrorism, amid rising diplomatic tensions following Turkish-made drones allegedly used in attacks on Indian soil. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stressed that bilateral relations must be rooted in “sensitivities to each other’s concerns.”
The statement came in response to recent revelations that Turkish-origin drones may have been used in Pakistani attacks targeting Indian military and civilian infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month.
“We expect Turkey to strongly urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism and take credible and verifiable actions against the terror ecosystem it has harboured for decades,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing in New Delhi.
He added, “Relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each other’s concerns,” sending a pointed diplomatic message to Ankara.
The diplomatic friction follows outrage in India after preliminary forensic analyses linked Pakistani drone attacks to Turkish-made “Asisguard Songar” drones. These drones, typically used for surveillance and precision targeting, were allegedly deployed in the May 8–9 cross-border strikes.
According to Indian intelligence sources, not only were Turkish drones supplied to Pakistan, but there may also have been Turkish operators involved in guiding these missions. These attacks resulted in injuries and destruction of infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, igniting public anger.
India responded by revoking the security clearance of Celebi Aviation, a Turkish firm operating at multiple Indian airports. The decision, announced on May 15, was based on “national security considerations.” MEA officials confirmed that the issue had been raised with the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi.
Several Indian academic institutions, including IIT Bombay and IIT Roorkee, have since suspended academic ties with Turkish universities in protest against Ankara’s perceived support of Pakistan. Social media and public discourse have been rife with criticism over Turkey’s actions, especially given India’s prior humanitarian assistance.
In February 2023, India had swiftly launched Operation Dost to help Turkey after a devastating earthquake that killed over 50,000 people. India sent NDRF teams, medical staff, and drones—including Garuda Aerospace’s “Droni”—to support Turkish rescue efforts.
“The Turkish response is deeply disappointing, considering the goodwill India extended during their time of crisis,” an Indian official said, requesting anonymity.
