India urges Turkey to pressure Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism and dismantle its terror ecosystem. MEA highlights Turkey’s military and diplomatic support to Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, and revokes security clearance for Turkish ground handling firm Celebi.
India has made a strong diplomatic call for Turkey to pressurize Pakistan to end its decades-long support to cross-border terrorism. During a media briefing held on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed clear expectations from Turkey, especially in light of recent events that have further strained India-Pakistan relations.
“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. Relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each other’s concerns,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated.
The comment comes amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, particularly following India’s decisive Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan. Turkey, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has not only condemned India’s military response but has also expressed open support for Pakistan’s stance.
Turkey’s military and diplomatic alignment with Pakistan became more apparent after Ankara condemned Operation Sindoor—a mission carried out by India in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians lost their lives. The attack was orchestrated by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
In a strong retaliatory step, India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, a Turkish firm providing ground handling services at nine Indian airports. The action, taken in the interest of national security, reflects New Delhi’s growing frustration with Turkey’s continued backing of Islamabad.
Jaiswal clarified that the Celebi matter had been discussed with the Turkish Embassy and the MEA. “However, I understand that this particular decision was taken by the Civil Aviation Security, as they are mandated to handle security issues,” he said.
Tensions deepened further when six Turkish C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft—possibly carrying arms—landed in Pakistan’s Karachi on April 27 and May 2. Additionally, the Turkish warship TCG Buyukada (F-512) was docked at Karachi Port during the same timeframe, raising concerns in New Delhi over increased military cooperation between the two nations.
Earlier this month, Indian air defense systems successfully neutralized a large-scale drone attack launched from Pakistani territory, targeting Indian military bases. Intelligence reports suggest these drones were sourced from Turkey, further underlining Ankara’s material support to Islamabad.
Analysts suggest that under President Erdogan, Turkey has transitioned from a secular, pro-Western nation to one that embraces Islamist populism, using state-controlled media and foreign alliances as tools of strategic influence. Erdogan’s post-attack solidarity call with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif only served to underscore the deepening ties between the two countries.
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The MEA’s statement appears to be a pointed diplomatic warning to Turkey, urging Ankara to re-evaluate its support to Pakistan’s terror links. By voicing this expectation in an official briefing, India has signaled that bilateral relations with Turkey will be impacted if Ankara continues its current trajectory.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Turkey recalibrates its foreign policy or continues its alignment with Pakistan. Meanwhile, India is expected to continue reinforcing its counter-terror diplomacy on the international stage while maintaining robust national security measures domestically.
