India has firmly rejected Turkey's assertion that New Delhi should not object to Ankara's close relationship with Pakistan. Former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal issued a strong rebuttal to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's recent remarks, accusing Turkey of a history of hostile actions against India.
Turkey's Stance and India's Response
Speaking at The IISS Raffles Lectures, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Türkiye had no bilateral issues with India and urged New Delhi not to view its ties with Pakistan "from a different perspective." Fidan commented, "If India is going to be resentful about any country having good relations with Pakistan, there are many such countries."
However, Kanwal Sibal, responding on social media platform X, called Fidan's statement dishonest. Sibal highlighted that despite India's efforts to maintain friendly relations, Turkey has engaged in "provocations against India for many years." He emphasized that India does not object to other nations having friendly ties with Pakistan, provided these relationships do not contain "overt anti-India content."
"Increasing Islamic Leanings" and Kashmir
Sibal pointed to Turkey's "increasing Islamic leanings" as a significant complication in bilateral ties. He specifically cited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's repeated interventions on the Kashmir issue, noting Erdogan is "the only leader who raises Kashmir in his speech at the UNGA."
Furthermore, Sibal accused President Erdogan of making "objectionable Islamic-oriented remarks on Kashmir" during visits to Pakistan. He also stated that Turkey is highly active within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) regarding Kashmir, is arming Pakistan, and serves as a major hub for disseminating Pakistani propaganda against India.
Past Incidents Strain India-Turkey Relations
Relations between India and Turkey have deteriorated following several incidents. Ankara sided with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror strike and India's subsequent counter-terror missile strikes during "Operation Sindoor." At that time, President Erdogan expressed solidarity with then-Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing India's actions as "provocative" and a risk to regional stability.
This fallout led to public calls in India for a boycott of Turkish goods. Additionally, the security clearance for Turkish aviation services company Celebi was revoked at nine Indian airports, including major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai. Indian tourist arrivals to Turkey also saw a sharp decline, dropping by 37% in June 2025.