India Halts Trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan Over Support to Pakistan: CAIT

On Friday, May 16, 2025, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) announced a complete boycott of trade and all business activities with Turkey and Azerbaijan. The decision comes amid rising tensions, as both countries have expressed support for Pakistan during the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict.

This decision was taken by trade leaders from across the country during a CAIT meeting convened under the leadership of BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal.

CAIT also appealed to the Indian film industry and corporate houses to avoid shooting movies, music videos, or promotional content in these two countries. Furthermore, all travel companies were requested to cancel planned trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

India’s Trade Figures with Turkey and Azerbaijan

According to the Indian government’s Niryat portal, India’s exports to Turkey in the current fiscal year amounted to $5.72 billion, which makes up about 1.3% of India's total exports.
On the import side, India received shipments worth $2.84 billion from Turkey between April 2024 and February 2025.

As for Azerbaijan, India’s export services in 2024–25 amounted to just $93.97 million, which is only 0.02% of India ’s total exports. Imports from Azerbaijan stood at only $1.93 million during the same period.

India Takes a Firm Stand

The Indian government has taken strong action by suspending bookings and services from Turkish travel institutions such as Inigo and EaseMyTrip. These platforms have been instructed to cancel all bookings to the two countries and discourage travelers from visiting unless absolutely necessary.

As I studied this entire case, one thing became clear — India is taking its dignity seriously. Whether it’s through Operation Sindoor or now by canceling trade ties with countries supporting Pakistan, India has made it clear:
"You cannot mess with us and walk away freely."