Understanding the link between India, Turkey, and Azerbaijan

• Online travel platforms reported a surge in cancellations of tour bookings to Turkiye and Azerbaijan following India’s military confrontation.

• Indian tour operators withdrew offers and promotional packages for trips to these countries.

• Calls to “boycott” both countries gained traction on social media.

• Institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, and Jawaharlal Nehru University suspended MoUs with some Turkish universities.

• Data shows that the relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye has been strengthened by arms trade.

• Turkiye has been exporting arms to Pakistan since the 1990s, with a significant share of this trade comprised artillery and armoured vehicles.

• Indian trader associations passed resolutions to boycott all forms of trade and commercial engagement with Turkiye and Azerbaijan.

• Despite calls to boycott, 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.

• Indian tourists formed less than 1% of all tourists to Turkiye in 2024, but the number of Indian visitors to Turkiye has been rising steadily in recent years.

• The number of Indian students pursuing higher education in Turkey and Azerbaijan has also increased in recent years.