Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), one of India’s premier academic institutions, has terminated its academic partnership with Turkey’s Inonu University, citing national security concerns. The move comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions and public outrage over Turkey’s vocal support for Pakistan following the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and India’s subsequent military operation.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), JNU declared, “The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Inonu University, Turkey, has been suspended due to national security considerations. JNU stands with the nation.” The MoU, signed on February 3, 2025, was initially set to run for three years until February 2, 2028.
Due to National Security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Türkiye stands suspended until further notice.
JNU stands with the Nation. #NationFirst @rashtrapatibhvn @VPIndia @narendramodi @PMOIndia @AmitShah @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @EduMinOfIndia— Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) (@JNU_official_50) May 14, 2025
This decision reflects growing domestic sentiment against Turkey following its backing of Islamabad during “Operation Sindoor” — India’s retaliatory military action targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes were launched in response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
India’s displeasure has further intensified with reports of Pakistani forces deploying Turkish-origin drones in cross-border operations during the four-day flare-up, which saw drone and missile strikes exchanged between the two nuclear-armed nations. The hostilities ceased on May 10 following an agreement between New Delhi and Islamabad to halt military actions.
Turkey’s condemnation of India’s counter-terror efforts has triggered a strong backlash. Calls for a boycott of Turkish goods and services are growing louder across India. The diplomatic fallout has also begun to impact trade and tourism.
Several leading Indian online travel platforms, including MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip, have reported mass cancellations of planned trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan — both countries perceived to have taken anti-India positions during the conflict. The tourism industry is already witnessing a sharp decline in interest from Indian travelers to the region.
