[Text/Observer Network, Chen Sijia] "India is riding a wave of consumer-driven diplomacy." According to a May 16 report by the Hong Kong South China Morning Post, after India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire agreement, Indian traders and citizens began boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan for supporting Pakistan in the conflict. However, analysts pointed out that India lacks economic influence, making it difficult for the boycott to effectively impact these two countries.

After India launched the "Sindoor Operation" to attack Pakistan last week, Turkish President Erdogan expressed support for Pakistan on social media. He stated that Turkey highly values Pakistan's peace, security, and stability, praising Pakistan's priority of dialogue and reconciliation in resolving disputes. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also issued a statement condemning the attacks on Pakistan and called for restraint from all parties.

The report noted that the Indian government accused Pakistan of deploying Turkish-made drones during the conflict, which has caused dissatisfaction among many Indian citizens. As a result, Indian citizens and traders across the country began rejecting Turkish goods such as apples and jewelry, while the All India Trade Union (CAIT) called for a comprehensive boycott of Turkish and Azerbaijani products and tourism.

In a statement released on May 16, CAIT announced that the organization would stop importing goods from Turkey and Azerbaijan and cease exporting goods to these two countries. Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of CAIT and Member of Parliament, said: "Economic pressure may force Turkey and Azerbaijan to reconsider their policies towards India."

Indian online travel platforms also issued reminders advising tourists not to visit Turkey and Azerbaijan due to "security risks and political tensions." Subhash Goyal, Chairman of the Indian Chamber of Commerce Travel Committee, urged the Indian government to issue formal travel advice, calling on the public not to visit these two countries.

According to estimates by the Indian government, approximately 300,000 Indian tourists visited Turkey in 2023, with over 200,000 visiting Azerbaijan. At the same time, about 3,000 Indian citizens reside in Turkey, and 1,500 Indian citizens live in Azerbaijan.

On May 16, in Gurgaon, India, senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its supporters held a parade to celebrate the "Sindoor Operation" Visual China

The South China Morning Post cited analysts as saying that although it is unlikely for India to completely break off diplomatic relations with the two countries in the short term, it is expected that the Indian government will exert pressure by delaying high-level contacts, quietly shelving bilateral mechanisms, and expanding strategic cooperation with Turkey's competitors.

Robinder Sachdev, founder of the Indian think tank Imagindia Institute, said that since Turkey has a trade surplus with India, India's boycott measures may have an impact on Turkey's economy.

"The strong reaction to Turkey and Azerbaijan is not only a manifestation of national sentiment but also reflects the growing wave of consumer-driven diplomacy in India," Sachdev said. "This citizen confidence is clearly evident in the actions of Indian online travel platforms and trade organizations, transforming public sentiment into a soft economic lever."

However, Sachdev admitted that Azerbaijan's economic ties with India are limited, with imports from Azerbaijan amounting to less than $2 million from April 2024 to February 2025, so the friction between the two countries is more "symbolic" and cannot cause "substantial impact."

Pushan Dutt, professor of economics and political science at INSEAD, also pointed out that India lacks economic influence and cannot effectively impose trade boycotts to strike at Turkey and Azerbaijan. "Turkey only exports 0.64% to India, imports 3% from India, and receives 0.5% of its tourists from India. Therefore, boycotting goods, trade, and tourism has little economic impact on Turkey and Azerbaijan."

He said that this India-Pakistan conflict has made India "wake up suddenly," gaining new insights into its global status. "Erdogan calls Pakistan an 'important brother.' From a broader perspective, what frustrates India is that no country explicitly supports India's claim to the right of retaliation. This is a cruel wake-up call for India and its geopolitical standing."

Dutt believes that India needs to realize that unless the country plays a larger role in global trade, tourism, and technology, it will not be taken seriously.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7505740762185990708/

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