India Calls on Turkey to Confront Pakistan's Terrorism Support

In a recent statement, India has called on Turkey to actively encourage Pakistan to cease its support for cross-border terrorism. This comes amid rising tensions following Turkey's backing of Pakistan's military actions against India. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has highlighted the need for credible actions against the terror networks that Pakistan has harbored for decades. The situation escalated after India's Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, leading to significant diplomatic discussions between the two nations. As Turkey continues to support Pakistan, the implications for regional security remain critical.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 22, 2025, 22:10 IST

India's Firm Stance on Cross-Border Terrorism

New Delhi: On Thursday, India reiterated its expectation that Turkey will actively encourage Pakistan to cease its support for cross-border terrorism and take genuine, verifiable steps against the terror networks it has nurtured for years.

During a weekly media briefing, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), stated, "We anticipate Turkey to strongly advocate for Pakistan to halt its backing of cross-border terrorism and to implement credible actions against the terror ecosystem it has fostered over decades. Relations should be founded on mutual respect for each other's concerns."

Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has openly supported Pakistan's military actions in response to India's Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.

In a significant move last week, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the security clearance for Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, which provides ground handling at nine airports, citing national security concerns.

This decision followed Turkey's endorsement of Pakistan and its condemnation of India's Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives.

Earlier this month, Pakistan launched drones targeting Indian territories and military installations, all of which were successfully intercepted by India's air defense systems, with these drones reportedly sourced from Turkey.

Jaiswal noted, "The Celebi issue has been discussed with the Turkish Embassy and our Ministry of External Affairs. However, the Civil Aviation Security made this decision as they are responsible for security matters."

Under Erdogan's leadership, Turkey has shifted from a secular, pro-Western democracy to a nation leaning towards Islamist populism, utilizing media strategically both domestically and internationally.

Turkey's military, diplomatic, and media backing for Islamabad has intensified tensions in recent weeks.

Erdogan met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shortly after the Pahalgam attack, which was executed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Following Operation Sindoor, Erdogan condemned India's air strikes and expressed solidarity with Pakistan during a conversation with Sharif.

Additionally, six Turkish C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, likely carrying arms, landed at Karachi airport on April 27 and May 2. A Turkish warship, TCG Buyukada (F-512), also docked at Karachi.