Anger erupted across Indian social media following reports that six Turkish C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, carrying military cargo, landed in Pakistan on Sunday. The development sparked a fierce reaction from experts, commentators, and citizens, many of whom called for a nationwide boycott of Turkish tourism and airlines.
Pawan Durani, a social media user, expressed his frustration, referencing India’s humanitarian aid to Turkey during the 2023 earthquake crisis. He wrote, “How many of you remember ‘Operation Dost’, where within one hour of the earthquake in Turkey, India was the first country to send relief teams. Snakes…” His comment reflected the sense of betrayal felt by many, especially after Turkey’s support for Pakistan amid India’s swift and generous relief efforts.
Security analyst Sushant Sareen also responded sharply to the situation, asking, “What do you call people who feed these snakes? If we are stupid by blaming the Turks, who are doing what they want to do.” His remarks underscored the growing frustration with Turkey’s actions, which many perceived as antagonistic toward India’s interests.
Swasti Rao, a geopolitical commentator and author, highlighted the seriousness of the issue.
She posted on X, “Good to see that Turkish C130 Hercules transport aircrafts with Military Cargo landing in Pakistan is being noticed in India. Turkey has been arming Pakistan, with an openly anti-India rhetoric. We usually only discuss #China.” Rao went on to emphasize that Turkey was not just a supporter of Pakistan, but also involved in arming Bangladesh, expressing concern over the broader geopolitical implications. She tagged India’s Prime Minister and Defence Ministry, urging them to take action.
The backlash against Turkey continued to gain momentum, with many social media users voicing their anger. Aravind, another social media user, called for a boycott of Turkish tourism. “Indian tourism to Turkey is increasing year after year, even as Turkey harms Indian economic and geopolitical interests,” he wrote. “Now it is direct military support against India, using Pakistan as a proxy. Indians, please boycott this terrorist Turkey’s tourism.”
Other users echoed similar sentiments, urging the public to shame anyone who travels to Turkey or supports Turkish Airways. One post stated, “Look at with shame anyone in your family or friends who take Turkish Airways or travel to Turkey. This is the only way to stop our senseless some from supporting our adversaries for their self-interest.”
The controversy intensified as an author called for travelers to cancel their bookings to Turkey in response to the country’s military support for Pakistan. “They are arming Pakistan,” the author urged.
Prominent academic voices joined the chorus of criticism. Aswini Mohapatra, a Professor at the School of International Studies in JNU, pointed out that Turkey had reportedly sent arms and drones to Pakistan. Mohapatra suggested that India should reciprocate by providing logistical support to the separatist PKK and Cyprus, a region Turkey has occupied since 1974.
The growing tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, have added to the urgency of the backlash. As the situation escalates, the calls for boycotting Turkey and holding the country accountable for its support of Pakistan continue to reverberate.
