Asaduddin Owaisi Urges Turkey to Rethink Pro-Pakistan Stance Amid Growing Backlash in India

AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday sharply criticized Turkey for its continued support of Pakistan, urging Ankara to reevaluate its diplomatic alignment by considering India’s historical and cultural ties with Turkey, as well as its significantly larger Muslim population.

Speaking out against Turkey’s perceived bias, Owaisi said, “Turkey must reassess its position.

India has over 220 million Muslims—more than Pakistan. The narrative that Pakistan represents the global Muslim community is misleading. Pakistan has nothing to do with the essence of Islam.”

Highlighting India’s long-standing ties with Turkey, Owaisi recalled historic cultural and religious connections between the two nations.

He cited the example of Isbank, a Turkish bank once patronized by depositors from Indian princely states like Hyderabad and Rampur, and noted that Turkish was taught in Ladakh until the 1990s.

“Back in the day, pilgrims from northern Turkey would travel through Ladakh on their way to Mumbai to embark on the Hajj pilgrimage,” he added. “These deep-rooted connections cannot be ignored in today’s diplomacy.”

Rising Anti-Turkey Sentiment in India

Owaisi’s comments come amid heightened tensions following Operation Sindoor and the recent Pahalgam terror attack, both of which intensified scrutiny of Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism.

Turkey’s vocal support for Pakistan in the aftermath has sparked outrage across India, leading to widespread public backlash and institutional pushback.

There has been a growing movement in India calling for a boycott of Turkish interests. This has resulted in:

• Cancellation of travel plans to Turkey
• Suspension of academic ties with Turkish universities
• Revocation of aviation licenses, including that of Celebi Aviation

Many Indians have pointed out the disproportionate nature of Turkey’s support, especially in light of India’s humanitarian assistance during the 2023 Turkey earthquake. Critics argue that Turkey’s current diplomatic posture lacks reciprocity.

Academic Institutions Respond

In a direct response to Turkey and its ally, Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan, several Indian academic institutions have begun severing ties with their counterparts in these countries.

• Lovely Professional University (LPU) has discontinued all collaborative programs with Turkish and Azerbaijani universities, citing alignment with national interest.
• Sharda University announced the termination of its partnerships with Istanbul Aydin University and Hasan Kalyoncu University, ending joint research projects, student exchange programs, and shared academic courses.
• Prominent institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia are also reviewing and halting collaborations in response to Turkey’s diplomatic stance.

Official Government Response Pending

Despite the growing domestic backlash and institutional disengagement, the Indian government has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

However, the actions of universities and civil society reflect a broader national sentiment that India’s goodwill, both historical and humanitarian, must be met with mutual respect, especially in the face of regional security challenges.

Owaisi’s remarks serve as both a warning and a reminder to Turkey, urging it not to let short-term alliances override centuries of civilizational and cultural ties with India.