Why Jawaharlal Nehru University Suspended Its Agreement with Turkey's Inonu University

Suspension of Academic Partnership

New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has decided to suspend its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Inonu University in Turkey, citing concerns related to national security, as confirmed by university officials on Tuesday.

The agreement, which was signed on February 3, was intended to last for three years.

"We have put the MoU with Inonu University on hold. The agreement included plans for faculty and student exchange programs, among other initiatives," stated a senior official from JNU.

Inonu University, located in Malatya, Turkey, had established this academic collaboration with JNU to enhance cross-cultural research and foster student partnerships.

This suspension comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly after both nations reached a ceasefire agreement on May 10 following several days of intense military exchanges involving drones and missiles.

India's trade relations with Turkey may face challenges due to Ankara's support for Islamabad and its condemnation of India's recent military actions against terrorist camps in Pakistan.

In light of Turkey's backing of Pakistan, there have been increasing calls within India to boycott Turkish products and tourism, with travel platforms like EaseMyTrip and Ixigo advising against trips to Turkey.