Turkey Boycott: 'Ye Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge...' Price Erdogan Has Made His Country Pay For Supporting Pakistan's Shabaz Sharif, Amir Munir

What began as a diplomatic gesture of solidarity with Pakistan has now turned into a growing geopolitical headache for Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s overt support for Pakistan — especially during heightened India-Pakistan tensions — has sparked calls for a boycott of Turkey in India, impacting tourism, trade, and bilateral relations.

 Erdogan Caught in the Crossfire

President Erdogan’s statements in favor of Pakistan, especially on sensitive issues like Kashmir, were warmly welcomed by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military leaders like Gen. Asim Munir. However, this move has not gone down well with India. Indian citizens, travel platforms, and business leaders have begun a silent yet impactful campaign of economic disengagement, popularly termed the "Turkey Boycott."

The fallout is already visible. According to travel portal MakeMyTrip, there has been a more than 70% drop in Indian tourists booking trips to Turkey. The surge in cancellations has even led to flights being withdrawn or rescheduled. Meanwhile, countries like Egypt, Indonesia, Vietnam, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia have emerged as alternative destinations for Indian travelers.

Trade Ties Under Strain

Turkey’s close alliance with Pakistan has also cast a shadow over its trade ties with India. In 2023-24, Turkey’s total trade stood at $619.5 billion, with exports at $255.8 billion and imports at $363.7 billion. Of this, trade with India accounted for $10.43 billion, which is just 1.68% of Turkey’s total global trade.

India exported goods worth $6.65 billion to Turkey (1.5% of India’s total exports) and imported $3.78 billion worth of goods (0.5% of India’s total imports). For the current period from April 2024 to February 2025, Indian exports to Turkey are estimated at $5.2 billion, while imports stand at $2.84 billion — figures that now face potential decline under public pressure and political tension.

From Earthquake Aid to Estrangement

The present discord is particularly striking given the recent history of cooperation between the two nations. When Turkey was struck by a devastating earthquake, India, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, rushed aid and support. Yet, Erdogan’s recent alignment with Pakistan has been seen by many in India as a betrayal of goodwill.

With increasing voices across Indian civil society, media, and even business circles calling for reduced engagement with Turkey, the price of Erdogan’s 'unshakable friendship' with Pakistan may prove to be a long-term diplomatic and economic liability for Ankara.