People buying Kashmiri apples instead of Turkish apple
Ajmer: Indo-Pak tension has come down but its effect can still be seen. Apples and kiwis coming from Türkiye in Ajmer, Rajasthan have been completely banned. Arjun, apple businessman in Ajmer, Rajasthan, says, “After India-Pakistan tension, apples and kiwis coming from there have been completely banned here.”
Arjun says, ‘There will also be a ban on any other fruits coming from Türkiye. People are buying Kashmiri apples instead of Turkish apple. During this time Türkiye has supported Pakistan, marble and fruit traders have stopped their business from Türkiye.
Why is there anger about Türkiye?
Turkey supported Pakistan amidst Indo-Pak tension. This support showed in many forms, such as Turkish President Rechhep Tayyip Erdogan’s phone conversation with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, drone and weapons supply to Pakistan, and support of Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir issue. Turkey condemned ‘Operation Sindoor’ and supported the demand for an international inquiry into the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Türkiye and Pakistan have deep historical, cultural, and religious relationships. Both countries are Muslim -dominated and Türkiye sees Pakistan as an important military and nuclear power in the Islamic world. The ambition of Turkish President Erdogan is to establish leadership in the Islamic world and to increase the legacy of the former Ottoman Empire. Pakistan is an important partner in this strategy, as a nuclear power.
Turkey has always supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. Erdogan criticized India’s policies about Kashmir and described it as close to his stand with Pakistan. Türkiye and India’s relations have been stressful in recent years, especially due to anti -India statements of Kashmir and Türkiye. Increasing relations with other countries of India (eg Israel, Greece) also brought Turkey closer to Pakistan.
