In a striking paradox of international diplomacy, Turkey finds itself navigating two sharply contrasting tracks in its relationship with India. On one hand, Ankara continues to bolster its military and diplomatic alliance with Pakistan—a country viewed by New Delhi as a principal security threat. On the other, Turkey is vigorously pursuing greater engagement with India’s aviation and tourism sectors.
This dual approach is now under increasing strain. Following the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, Turkey’s swift show of solidarity with Pakistan drew condemnation from Indian media and analysts. Ankara not only defended Islamabad’s position but also proposed joint UN interventions calling for dialogue on Kashmir—seen by India as interference in its internal affairs.
At the same time, Turkish Airlines, widely recognized as one of Europe’s premier carriers, is seeking to expand its footprint in India. It currently operates 14 flights a week to New Delhi and Mumbai and is pushing for more capacity, including new routes to Tier-II cities. With Istanbul positioned as a key transit hub, Turkey wants to offer Indian travelers a smooth connection to Europe and the Americas.
This expansion comes at a delicate moment. Indian public sentiment has turned sharply nationalistic in response to Turkey’s political statements. Prominent business figures have called for a boycott of Turkish goods and services, and tourism operators are seeing a dramatic downturn in interest. Turkish tour packages are being dropped, and airlines are reporting significant losses due to flight cancellations.
In 2024, Turkey welcomed over 260,000 Indian tourists—an impressive number that translated into substantial revenue. That boom is now threatened by political misalignment. Indian agencies are redirecting demand toward destinations that maintain neutral or friendly positions in regional conflicts.
While economic logic might argue for continued cooperation, the emotional and political dimensions are harder to overlook. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not yet taken direct action against Turkish airlines, but insiders suggest that future air service negotiations could be linked to political behavior.
For Turkey, the challenge lies in reconciling its ideological affinity with Pakistan with its commercial ambitions in India. The longer Ankara sticks to a confrontational diplomatic tone, the more turbulence its economic partnerships—especially in aviation—will face.
