Indian Traders Announce Boycott Of Turkey, Azerbaijan Over Support To Pakistan During Operation Sindoor

Traders' associations from across the country announced a unanimous decision to boycott trade and travel with Turkey and Azerbaijan, which supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India's anti-terror strikes in response to the killings of tourists in Pahalgam in Kashmir. The associations also appealed to the Indian film industry to stop shooting films in the two countries. Films shot there will be boycotted, the trade associations warned.

The resolution was taken at a national conference convened by the Confederation of All India Traders in New Delhi on Friday. The associations said that the support given by the two countries to Pakistan was a betrayal, particularly considering the humanitarian and diplomatic support extended to both these countries in the past by India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during recent crises.

CAIT's secretary general and Member of Parliament Praveen Khandelwal said, "It is deeply unfortunate that Turkey and Azerbaijan, who have benefited from India’s goodwill, aid, and strategic support in times of distress, have now chosen to side with Pakistan — a country known globally for its support to terrorism. Their position not only hurts India’s sovereignty and national interest but also directly insults the sentiments of 140 crore Indians.”

B C Bhartia, CAIT's national president, said that the traders' community expressed strong resentment and disappointment against both countries, calling their actions 'ungrateful and hostile.'  The trade leaders acclaimed the decision of the government to revoke security clearance for Celebi Ground Handling India Private Limited, a Turkish company which is handling services at nine major airports of India, in the interest of national security. Decisions taken at the meeting include a nationwide boycott of Turkish and Azerbaijani goods, no fresh trade deals, and cancellation of travel and tourism to the countries.

“The Indian trading community has always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the nation. When any country dares to challenge India’s integrity by standing with enemies of peace, we will respond with the strongest peaceful weapon at our disposal – economic disengagement,” added Khandelwal.

The associations will submit a memorandum to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of External Affairs urging a policy-level review of all commercial ties with these nations. CAIT will also launch a nationwide awareness campaign to educate and mobilise traders, consumers, and travel professionals to join the boycott.