Owaisi Criticizes Turkey's Support for Pakistan, Urges Reevaluation
In a recent statement, Asaduddin Owaisi criticized Turkey for its support of Pakistan, urging the nation to reconsider its stance. He emphasized that India's Muslim population is larger than that of Pakistan and highlighted the historical connections between India and Turkey. Owaisi's remarks come amid rising calls in India for a boycott of Turkey due to its backing of Pakistan, which has led to canceled trips and halted collaborations. This article delves into Owaisi's arguments and the implications of Turkey's support for Pakistan.
| May 17, 2025, 17:12 IST
Owaisi Calls for Turkey to Reconsider Its Stance
On Saturday, Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi expressed his disapproval of Turkey's backing of Pakistan and urged Ankara to reassess its position. He highlighted that the Muslim population in India surpasses that of Pakistan. The AIMIM leader cautioned Turkey against blindly supporting Pakistan and encouraged it to acknowledge its deep historical ties with India before making any decisions.
Owaisi Reminds Turkey of Historical Connections
Owaisi emphasized that Turkey should reconsider its support for Pakistan, reminding them of the existence of a bank named Isbank, which had Indian depositors from regions like Hyderabad and Rampur. He pointed out that India shares numerous historical connections with Turkey, including the fact that Turkish was taught in the Ladakh region until 1990. Owaisi also noted that more Muslims reside in India than in Pakistan, recalling that pilgrims from northern Turkey historically traveled through Ladakh to reach Mumbai for Hajj.
Concerns Over Turkey's Support for Pakistan
Owaisi stated that until 1920, people from northern Turkey visited Ladakh before heading to Mumbai for Hajj. He insisted that Turkey should be reminded that there are 220 million honorable Muslims living in India. He dismissed the notion of Pakistan being a Muslim nation as misleading, asserting that India has a larger Muslim population than Pakistan, which has no genuine connection to Islam. Following incidents like Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam attack, voices in India have been calling for a boycott of Turkey due to its support for Pakistan, leading to canceled trips, halted academic collaborations, and the suspension of a celebrity aviation license.