Indian universities suspend academic ties with Turkish institutions amid boycott call
Indian universities suspend academic ties with Turkish institutions amid boycott calls
M.U.H
16/05/202523
Amid calls to boycott Turkey, several Indian universities, including Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), have suspended their academic ties with Turkish institutions, citing national security concerns amid worsening India-Turkey relations.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) announced the suspension of its academic partnership with Inonu University in Türkiye, stating, “Due to national security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Türkiye stands suspended until further notice. JNU stands with the Nation,” in a post on X, accompanied by the hashtag #NationFirst.
Jamia Millia Islamia announced the suspension of its academic ties with Turkish institutions, citing “national security considerations,” and stated that all MoUs with institutions affiliated with the Government of the Republic of Türkiye are suspended “with immediate effect, until further orders.”
“Jamia Millia Islamia stands firmly with the Nation,” they added.
The Maulana Azad National Urdu University also cancelled all MoUs with Turkey.
Turkish broadcaster TRT World’s official X account has also been withheld in India.
Lists of Turkish brands available in India began circulating on social media and WhatsApp, with users calling for a boycott of the products.
In addition to the university suspensions and brand boycotts, travel platforms like MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip have reported a wave of cancellations by Indian tourists to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, IndiGo on Thursday defended its partnership with Turkish Airlines, stating that the codeshare agreement has significantly enhanced international travel accessibility and affordability for passengers traveling from smaller Indian cities to destinations in Europe and the United States.
These developments come amid growing calls in India to boycott Turkish products and avoid travel to Turkey, following Ankara’s backing of Pakistan in the ongoing border tensions and its supply of Turkish-origin Songar drones that were used by Pakistan in military actions against India.
In a press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, “A forensic examination of the drone debris is currently underway. Preliminary reports indicate that the drones are Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models.”
Despite all this, amid boycott calls from Indians, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced his support for Pakistan in his address after chairing a Cabinet meeting in Ankara. Erdogan said that Ankara will continue to back the “brotherly people of Pakistan” in good and bad times.
Turkey was the only country to openly support Pakistan’s narrative following India’s strikes, stating, “We condemn such provocative steps as well as attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure,” while backing Pakistan’s call for an international investigation into the April 22 deadly attack.
