Following reports shared during Operation Sindoor, which revealed that Turkish-made Asisguard Songar drones were deployed by Pakistan in the recent attack against India, Indians have decided boycott Turkish products, stop trade deals with Turkey and even ban the country as a vacation destination.

A major segment of India’s outbound travel sector is witnessing a steep decline in demand for Turkey. A sharp decline in interest for Turkey as a travel destination with nearly 80 per cent of bookings either cancelled or postponed.

This comes after public statements by Turkey and Azerbaijan in support of Pakistan after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting terror infrastructure across the border. The two countries have expressed diplomatic support for Pakistan.

Turkey not only supported Pakistan with ammunition such as more than 350 drones, but Turkish advisors helped Pakistani Army officials coordinate drone attacks on India after Operation Sindoor. Two Turkish military operatives were reportedly killed as part of Operation Sindoor.

Apple traders in Pune boycott Turkish apples

Apple traders in Pune say they have decided to boycott Turkish apples. Suyog Zende, an apple trader at Pune’s APMC market, told ANI, “We have decided to stop buying apples from Turkey because it supports Pakistan, and instead prefer to buy apples from Himachal and other areas. India was taking action against terrorism, but Turkey supplied drones to Pakistan. Retail customers are also saying that they do not want Turkish apples. Seeing them, we also decided to boycott Turkish apples. Turkish apples are sold here for 3 months and this business is worth around Rs 1200-1500 crore. When there was an earthquake in Turkey, India was the first country to help them, but they supported Pakistan.”

Udaipur Marble Traders to end business with Turkey

Marble traders in Rajasthan’s Udaipur have decided to end business with Turkey for supporting Pakistan amid recent tensions with India. Kapil Surana, President of Udaipur Marble Processors Committee, told ANI, “Udaipur is Asia’s biggest exporter of marbles. All members of the committee had unanimously agreed to stop trade with Turkey because of its support to Pakistan. At least 70% of the marble imported to India comes from Turkey. Not just Udaipur, if all marble associations stop their trade with Turkey, it will give a strong message to the world that the Indian government is not alone, industries and all Indians stand with our government. Also, by stopping trade with Turkey, the demand for Indian marble will grow.”

Shiv Sena demands removal of Turkish company handling ground services in Mumbai airport

Shiv Sena leaders on Monday visited Mumbai Airport and demanded that the authorities cancel the contract of a Turkish company currently handling ground services. The party is upset over Turkey’s open support to Pakistan amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Shiv Sena leader Murji Patel told reporters that they are angry because Turkey is making money through contracts in India while backing Pakistan at the same time.

Travel companies suspend bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan

Leading travel agencies including EaseMyTrip, Cox &Kings and ixigo have suspended all travel packages, flights and hotel bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan in solidarity with India, amid reports of Turkey siding with Pakistan.
Indian travellers and travel agents have expressed strong displeasure over Turkey’s statements of support for Pakistan during the conflict, leading to mass cancellations and halt on new bookings.

Online travel bookings platform, Ixigo’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Aloke Bajpai, in a post on the social media platform X on Saturday, May 10, announced that the company is suspending all hotel and flight bookings to Turkey, China & Azerbaijan amid the ongoing India and Pakistan conflict.
“Enough is Enough! Blood and Bookings won’t flow together. We are suspending all flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, China and Azerbaijan on ixigo,” Aloke Bajpai mentioned in his X post.

In an X post, ixigo said, “In solidarity with our nation, ixigo is suspending flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China. Because when it comes to Bharat, we don’t think twice. Jai Hind”.

According to a B2B marketplace for travel agents, there has been “A sharp decline in interest for Turkey as a travel destination with nearly 80 per cent of bookings either cancelled or postponed”.

Online travel booking platforms such as Cox & Kings and Travomint have also suspended sale of all travel packages to nations like Turkey and Azerbaijan in a move to boycott the nations.

This comes after Turkey condemned India’s Operation Sindoor in Pakistan and said that it increases the risks of an “all-out war” between India and Pakistan. Apart from Turkey, Azerbaijan also criticised India’s airstrike.

Turkish drones used by Pakistan against India

Following Operation Sindoor under which Indian Military attacked terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Pakistan Army sent 300–400 drones to target Indian military infrastructure along the northern and western borders.

Sharing the information during a press briefing on Operation Sindoor, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said, “Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence.”

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X sharing Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan’s message of solidarity with Pakistan against India’s Operation Sindoor.

“FM of Türkiye @HakanFidan called DPM/FM @MIshaqDar50 to express Türkiye’s solidarity with Pakistan against India’s unprovoked aggression violating Pakistan’s sovereignty and killing innocent civilians. He expressed concern over the deteriorating regional security situation. Both leaders agreed to remain in close coordination on the evolving situation,” reads the X post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan.