Turkey-Pakistan Propaganda Nexus: Turkey as a Safe Haven for Anti-India Networks

Turkey and Pakistan have built a nexus fueling anti-India propaganda via media, academic, and NGO platforms, targeting Kashmir and Indian policies.

TIH BUREAU, NEW DELHI | In recent years, Turkey has transformed into a pivotal hub for anti-India elements, forging strong operational and ideological ties with Pakistan. Under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ankara has positioned itself as the self-styled leader of the Muslim Ummah, using both overt and covert means to bolster its international influence and foster pan-Islamist solidarity. This ambition has led to the development of a sophisticated and multifaceted network—spanning media, academia, NGOs, and diaspora—which actively propagates anti-India narratives and supports separatist agendas, particularly concerning the Kashmir conflict.

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Turkey’s Political Shift and the Rise of the Anti-India Narrative

Turkey’s outward alignment with Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir and selective criticism of India’s domestic policies marks a significant departure from Ankara’s earlier, more secular external posture.

Following the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir in August 2019, Turkish leaders and state organs have vigorously condemned India’s actions at global forums, echoing Pakistan’s stance and often using religious rhetoric to cast the issue as an international Muslim cause.

President Erdoğan’s claims to “lead the Islamic world” have emboldened Turkish state media and diplomatic channels to systematically question India’s record on Kashmir, citizenship legislation (CAA-NRC), minority rights, and communal harmony. Turkish agencies have played a role in internationalizing these issues, drawing them into the discourse of broader Muslim grievances.

Media Infrastructure: A Platform for Anti-India Propaganda

One of the clearest manifestations of this strategy is the aggressive stance adopted by Turkish media outlets like TRT World, Anadolu Agency, and print platforms such as Yeni Şafak. These organizations regularly carry content critical of India, including editorials, documentaries, and opinion pieces that echo or amplify Pakistani talking points. 

Issues such as alleged human rights abuses in Kashmir, discrimination against minorities, and accusations against Indian political figures are commonplace. These same outlets have been known to invite guests who are openly pro-Pakistan or connected to separatist activism, thereby creating an echo chamber for anti-India sentiment.

A deeper undercurrent is the integration of South Asian journalists into the Turkish media ecosystem. Notably, journalists from Jammu & Kashmir have found employment and platforms in major Turkish newsrooms, where they continue to pursue anti-India journalism, sometimes under the patronage or direction of Pakistani agencies like the ISI. 

This integration is not limited to media alone—Pakistan-backed actors are actively involved in launching or supporting online initiatives (“research” portals, blogs, propaganda channels) designed to discredit India globally, targeting Western policymakers and media consumers.

Cultural and Digital Influence Campaigns

Turkish television serials, with themes of Islamic conquest and resistance, have found significant traction within India, especially in the Kashmir Valley. Popular series such as "Ertugrul" and "Baba" are widely disseminated, serving not only as entertainment but also as subtle vehicles of identity reinforcement and political messaging. The glorification of historical struggles against non-Muslim "invaders" resonates with local grievances and, some analysts argue, helps to stoke separatist sentiments.

This soft power push extends far beyond entertainment. Viral videos and clipped scenes from Turkish series are distributed through social media, WhatsApp groups, and messaging apps, reaching audiences across religious and regional lines in India. These digital tactics are part of a broader information warfare strategy that leverages empathy with the Turkish state’s positions.

Academic, NGO, and Religious Outreach

Education and NGO sectors have emerged as powerful instruments in Turkey’s anti-India strategy. Through generous state-sponsored scholarships, cultural exchange programs, and cooperation agreements, Turkish agencies attract Indian Muslim and Kashmiri students. Key organizations—TIKA, YTB, Yunus Emre Institute, Diyanet Foundation (TDV), Anadolu Agency, and TUGVA—run exchange and education programs. Once in Turkey, these students are often approached by Pakistani proxies, who recruit them into networks for activism, advocacy, and sometimes even direct propaganda work against India.

Upon their return, alumni are courted by Turkish diplomatic missions in India to act as cultural ambassadors and facilitators for future scholarships—further expanding Ankara’s soft influence within Indian academia and Muslim civil society organizations.

Turkey’s Diyanet Foundation, run by Erdoğan loyalists, has also been tasked with extending its religious outreach among Indian Muslims, encouraging pan-Islamic identification and at times provoking opposition to India’s secular state identity.

Citizenship, NGOs, and Facilitators of the Agenda

Turkey’s approach has become more brazen in recent years, with citizenship grants to Indian Kashmiris actively involved in anti-India activism—such as Baba Umar, Riaz-ul-Khaliq, and Tasheen Nazar—who subsequently gain prestigious roles in media, nonprofit, or educational institutions. This both allows them to operate outside India’s legal reach and lends false legitimacy to their activities.

Collaboration with Indian NGOs, especially those identified with pan-Islamist or separatist tendencies, has accelerated. Pakistani intelligence agencies, under the cover of Turkish organizations, now coordinate programs and sponsor travel for Indian activists to attend events in Turkey, network with international groups, and appear at diplomatic and media forums.

In parallel, Turkish journalists frequently visit India, sometimes under tourist visas, to gather material and nurture networks for anti-India reporting. Plausible deniability is maintained, but there is credible evidence of orchestrated, ISI-supported initiatives operating under the Turkish state’s protection.

The Broader Strategic Context

Turkey’s deepening partnership with Pakistan is rooted in shared Islamic identity politics and mutual opposition to India’s rising strategic profile in the region and beyond. Turkey was among the first to support Pakistan’s move to establish an alternate Islamic bloc to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). This collaboration plays out both openly in international diplomacy and covertly through overlapping networks of propaganda, advocacy, and subversion.

Why is Turkey called a safe haven for anti-India elements?

Turkey allows anti-India elements—especially those acting under Pakistan’s influence—to operate freely within its borders. Activists, journalists, and NGOs promoting separatist or anti-India content receive material, institutional, and sometimes even legal support through residency and citizenship.

Turkey’s governmental and religious infrastructure collaborates openly with known anti-India operatives, making the country a backdoor for hostile influence operations.

How do Turkish media platforms propagate anti-India propaganda?

Major Turkish broadcasters (TRT, Anadolu Agency) and print media routinely produce and disseminate anti-India reports, documentaries, and editorials. These outlets amplify separatist narratives, question Indian government policies, feature pro-Pakistani and anti-India voices, and often echo talking points developed by Pakistani authorities. Some journalists in these organizations have direct ties to intelligence agencies and separatist groups.

What is the Turkey-Pakistan nexus and how does it impact India?

The Turkey-Pakistan nexus encompasses a network of official and private actors working together in media, academia, and NGOs to advance shared interests against India—focusing heavily on the Kashmir issue and broader Islamic solidarity themes. 

This alliance enables coordinated information operations, lobbying, and grooming of activists, with Pakistan providing ground support and Turkey acting as the international platform.

Are Indian students and activists being targeted by Turkey?

Yes. Turkish government-backed scholarships and exchange programs intentionally attract Indian Kashmiri and Muslim students. Once in Turkey, some are recruited by Pakistani proxies and networks for anti-India activities and advocacy, sometimes without the knowledge or oversight of Indian diplomatic missions. 

Upon return, these individuals may facilitate further scholarships and propagate Turkey’s and Pakistan’s agendas in India.

How does Turkey use NGOs and academic ties to further its anti-India agenda?

Turkey-based NGOs and educational foundations build alliances with Indian organizations, sponsor visits, and host collaboration initiatives involving Indian activists and students. 

NGOs and religious groups like Diyanet Foundation organize events, fund conferences, and provide platforms for Indian participants to learn, share, and sometimes campaign against India’s constitutional and security framework, often with logistical and ideological support from Pakistani peers.

Has Turkey granted citizenship to Indian Kashmiris supporting the Pakistani narrative?

Turkey has actively granted citizenship to a number of Indian Kashmiris actively involved in separatist or anti-India activism. 

These individuals, such as Baba Umar, Riaz-ul-Khaliq, and Tasheen Nazar, often gain employment in Turkish media, nonprofits, or academia, further embedding themselves within Ankara’s anti-India ecosystem.

Conclusion

Turkey has moved far beyond rhetorical support for Pakistan on Kashmir. It now acts as a dynamic platform—through media, education, NGOs, and digital influence campaigns—for the propagation and orchestration of anti-India sentiment. This ties into a broader geostrategic alignment aimed at reshaping the power balance within the global Muslim world, with serious consequences for India’s diplomatic, security, and social fabric.