Turkey’s choice to back Pakistan, a notorious sponsor of terrorism, after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack and India’s Operation Sindoor has unleashed a fierce backlash in India. From Udaipur’s marble yards to Pune’s fruit stalls, Indian traders and consumers are shunning Turkish goods, delivering a punishing economic blow to Ankara.
By supplying drones to Pakistan and offering diplomatic cover, Turkey has miscalculated India’s resolve, and the surging #BoycottTurkey movement is making it pay a steep price for its complicity in terrorism.
The scale of India’s response is staggering. In Udaipur, the heart of India’s marble industry, the Udaipur Marble Processors Association, with 125 members, has called for a complete halt to Turkish marble imports.
Turkey supplies 70% of India’s imported marble—14–18 lakh tonnes annually, worth Rs 2,500–3,000 crore. The spark? Reports that Turkish Asisguard Songar drones were used by Pakistan in attacks against India, a gut punch from a nation India rushed to aid during its 2023 earthquake.
“We won’t let business override our nation’s dignity,” said Kapil Surana, the association’s president, in a fiery appeal to the Prime Minister for a formal ban.
Fruit markets are joining the fight with equal zeal. Turkish apples, once a staple in cities like Pune and Mumbai, have vanished from shelves, wiping out a trade worth Rs 1,000–1,200 crore seasonally. Suyog Zende, a trader at Pune’s APMC market, summed it up: “This isn’t just about apples—it’s about standing against those who arm terrorists.”
Traders are pivoting to apples from Iran, New Zealand, Washington, and Indian states like Himachal and Uttarakhand. The switch comes at a cost—retail prices are up Rs 20–30 per kg, and wholesale rates for 10 kg cartons have jumped Rs 200–300, worsened by Kashmir supply disruptions and rain-damaged routes. Yet, the resolve remains ironclad.
Turkey’s tourism industry, a cornerstone of its economy, is reeling. Last year, 287,000 Indians visited Turkey, injecting nearly Rs 3,000 crore. Now, travel platforms like EaseMyTrip, Ixigo, and Cox & Kings have suspended bookings, citing Turkey’s pro-Pakistan stance.
The #BoycottTurkey hashtag is dominating social media, with voices like Harsh Goenka pointing out that Indians spent over Rs 4,000 crore on Turkey and Azerbaijan’s tourism in 2024. “Why fund nations that back our enemies? India has better destinations,” he wrote. Even Goa’s villas are turning away Turkish tourists, a symbolic snub that underscores the depth of public anger.
This boycott isn’t just about marble, apples, or tourism—it’s a broader rejection of Turkey’s economic presence. India-Turkey trade was worth $10.43 billion in 2023, with Indian investments in Turkey nearing $200 million.
Now, brands like Beko, Ulker, and Trendyol face growing scrutiny, and the Confederation of All India Traders is pushing for a total economic divorce from Turkey. Hitesh Patel, general secretary of the Udaipur marble association, captured the mood: “We’re telling the world that India won’t tolerate anyone who supports terrorism.”
The economic toll on Turkey is mounting fast. A projected 50% drop in Indian travel bookings could devastate its tourism sector, which accounts for 12% of GDP. Marble and apple trade losses are already disrupting supply chains, and the broader push to shun Turkish goods threatens billions in revenue. Turkey’s attempts to downplay the crisis—claiming its citizens are unaware of the conflict—ring hollow. Indians aren’t buying it, especially when Ankara’s drones are linked to attacks on their soil.
Turkey’s misstep is a case study in diplomatic folly. By aligning with Pakistan, a state long tied to cross-border terrorism, Ankara has alienated one of its biggest markets. The boycott’s impact—empty fruit stalls, idle marble shipments, and canceled flights—is a testament to India’s economic clout. Traders and consumers are sending an unmistakable message: you can’t arm India’s adversaries and expect its rupees. Turkey’s tourism, trade, and global standing are taking a hit, proving that siding with terror comes with a price tag it can’t afford.