India has urged Turkey to pressure Pakistan to stop funding terrorism and destroy the ecosystem that goes along with it. In a letter to Ankara regarding Turkey’s involvement in the most recent India-Pakistan crisis, India added that international relations are based on “sensitivities to each other’s concerns.” “We expect Turkey to strongly urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism and take credible and verifiable actions against the terror ecosystem it has harboured for decades,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday.
In reference to the criticism directed at Turkey for its backing of Pakistan following the Pahalgam assault, Jaiswal stated that both countries ought to treat issues involving one another with tact. “Relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each other’s concerns,” he said.
He stated that the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi has been consulted over the Celebi Aviation problem. “Celebi matter has been discussed with the Turkish Embassy here. But I understand that this particular decision was taken by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS),” he said.
A press briefing by the MEA on May 9 following Pakistan’s drone assaults on Indian military sites and people on the intervening night of May 8–9, 2025, sparked the public outcry against Turkey. India stated at the briefing that initial forensic examination of wreckage found on crashed drones indicates they were Turkish-made “Asisguard Songar” models, which are frequently used for precision strikes and surveillance.
Sources claim that in addition to selling Pakistan armed drones, certain Turkish operators were also in charge of drone missions that attacked Indian soldiers and civilians. According to Indian government sources, this kind of attitude is surprising for a nation that India assisted after the 2023 earthquake.
It should be mentioned that after the disastrous earthquake in February 2023 that killed over 50,000 people, India was among the first nations to offer assistance to Turkey. India initiated ‘Operation Dost’ to support Turkey’s search and rescue efforts following the earthquake. For rescue efforts, India dispatched NDRF teams, medical personnel, and equipment to Turkey. Along with drones for transporting supplies, food, and medicine, Garuda Aerospace’s Droni drones were also utilised to locate and rescue those buried beneath debris.
Celebi Aviation, a Turkish business that provides ground handling services for passengers and goods at Indian airports, had its security certification withdrawn by India last week. The decision was made in the interest of national security, per a government decree published on May 15. As a result of their support for Pakistan, a number of Indian higher education institutions, including IIT Bombay and IIT Roorkee, severed their connections with Turkish universities.
