NEW DELHI, May 14 — Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Wednesday announced the suspension of its academic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkiye’s Inonu University, citing national security considerations amid heightened diplomatic tensions.
“Due to national security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Turkey stands suspended until further notice,” the university administration posted on X.
The MoU, signed on February 3 this year for a three-year term, aimed to facilitate academic collaboration, including faculty and student exchange programs. “We have suspended the MoU with Turkiye’s Inonu University,” a senior JNU official told PTI. “The agreement included plans for exchanges and other joint academic efforts.”
Inonu University, according to its official website, has graduated around 150,000 students and played a key role in developing skilled professionals in science, arts, economics, and social sciences in Turkey.
JNU’s decision comes in the wake of growing national backlash against Turkey for its vocal support of Pakistan during India’s Operation Sindoor, a military strike targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Both Turkey and Azerbaijan had criticized India’s actions, drawing strong reactions across Indian civil and commercial sectors.
India also took note of Islamabad’s use of Turkish-made kamikaze drones during its unsuccessful attempts to target Indian military assets.
Public sentiment has since hardened, with calls for economic disengagement from Turkey gaining momentum. Traders in cities like Pune and across Uttar Pradesh have initiated a boycott of Turkish products, including agricultural imports such as apples.
Subhash Goyal, Chairman of the Tourism Committee at the Chamber of Commerce, expressed dismay over Ankara’s stance. “It is unfortunate that we helped Turkey a lot when there was an earthquake there. We even sent our doctors, dog squad, and medical team under Operation Dost. We could not have imagined that Turkey would take such a step in connivance with our enemy,” Goyal said. “The Travel Agents Association of India and other travel bodies have supported the boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan.”
Legal professionals have joined the protest as well. Rajendra Singh, Managing Partner of law firm Lex Jurists, said his team canceled a planned trip to Azerbaijan following the Pahalgam terror attack. “We had scheduled our visit before the incident, but once we learned about it, we cancelled immediately. My priority now is to promote tourism within our own country,” he said.
The suspension of academic ties by JNU marks a broader shift in India’s response to diplomatic alignments in the region, especially those perceived as hostile to national security interests.
