Tourists and commuters sail through Bosphorus on a ferry in Istanbul, Turkey, April 23, 2025
| Photo Credit: UMIT BEKTAS
Following Turkiye and Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan after India’s military confrontation in the wake of the Pahalgam massacre, many online travel platforms reported a sharp spike in cancellations of tour bookings to these countries.
Many Indian tour operators withdrew offers and promotional packages for trips to Turkiye and Azerbaijan. On social media, calls to “boycott” both countries gained traction. Institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, and Jawaharlal Nehru University suspended MoUs with some Turkish universities.
Data show that the relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye has been strengthened by arms trade. The two countries have also shown reciprocal support during past geopolitical standoffs.
For instance, Turkiye has backed Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, while Pakistan has supported Turkiye in disputes related to Cyprus.
Similarly, in 2020, it was with Turkish backing that Azerbaijan captured much of the Armenian-populated enclave from Armenia. Though Azerbaijan regained full control of the region in 2023, Turkiye denied any direct involvement in that year’s operation.
Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that Turkiye has been exporting arms to Pakistan since the 1990s.
Chart 1 shows Turkiye’s arms exports to Pakistan between 1995 and 2023 by category and volume.
A significant share of this trade comprised artillery — defined as naval, fixed, self-propelled guns, howitzers, and multiple rocket launchers. Pakistan also received armoured vehicles from Turkiye, including tanks, armoured cars, and personnel carriers.
Chart 2 shows India’s weapons exports to Armenia over the years
India has supplied weapons to Armenia. Most of these exports comprise surface-to-air missile systems and a few multiple rocket launchers. In contrast, SIPRI data shows no official arms transactions between India and Azerbaijan, or India and Turkiye.
Chart 3 shows the country-wise share of India’s imports crude oil over the past six years (in %)
Last week, some Indian trader associations passed resolutions to boycott all forms of trade and commercial engagement with Turkiye and Azerbaijan. However, data suggests that even if this escalates into an official trade ban, India stands to lose little.
Crude oil is the primary import from both countries, but their combined share in India’s total crude imports has remained below 1% over the past six years. In contrast, Azerbaijan could face a greater impact, as India was its third largest destination for crude oil as of 2023.
Another major import from Turkiye is machinery and mechanical appliances, including nuclear reactors, boilers, and related parts. Chart 4 shows the country-wise share of India’s imports of these products over the past six years. (in %)
But even in this category, Turkiye accounts for only about 1% of India’s total imports India remains far more dependent on countries such as China and Germany for such equipment.
While calls to boycott Turkiye and Azerbaijan have led to “mass cancellations” of travel bookings from India, data shows that Indian tourists formed less than 1% of all tourists to Turkiye in 2024. That said, the number of Indian visitors to Turkiye has been rising steadily in recent years.
Chart 5 shows the number of tourists from India who went to Turkiye from 2008 to 2023
In 2023, Indians made up less than 6% of all tourists in Azerbaijan, but this share rose to around 10% in 2024. The boycott calls, therefore, come at a time when Indian travel to both these countries was on the rise.
Chart 6 shows the number of tourists from India who went to Azerbaijan from 2008 to 2023.
The number of Indian students pursuing higher education in Turkey and Azerbaijan has also increased in recent years. In 2017, the number of Indian students in these countries was less than 100. As of January 2024, it increased by at least seven times (777).
Also read: J&K’s economy and tourism in peril after Pahalgam massacre
Published – May 22, 2025 08:00 am IST