Turkish Universities turning into epicenters of anti-India activities

Indian security agencies have alleged that universities in Turkey are playing a big part in anti-India campaigning with Pakistan helping at every step and organizing events to further its anti-India agenda.

“Due to Turkey-Pakistan relations, anti-India events are being organized in Turkish Universities to give the campaign legitimacy for the past one year. These events are organized in collaboration of the Pakistani mission in Turkey, Pakistan sponsored NGOs and Pakistani proxies,” according to Indian security agencies.

More than 30 big and small conferences and seminars on Kashmir have been organised in Turkish Universities since August 5, 2019.

The ISI proxy and Secretary-General of World Kashmir Forum Ghulam Nabi Fai attended around half a dozen events. Whereas, Pakistani Ambassador to Turkey Syrus Sajjad Qazi was seen attending several such events.

Turkey and Pakistan have grouped together to take on India. Turkey has been consistent in radicalizing Indian Muslims and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was one of the first leaders to back Pakistan’s position on abrogation of Article 370.

Raising the Kashmir issue is mutually beneficial for both the countries as it would help Pakistan to strengthen its position on Kashmir and benefit Erdogan to become the undisputed ‘Caliph’ of the Muslim Ummah.

As per Indian agencies, Pakistani Embassy and Pakistani Consulates themselves organized multiple events on Kashmir, including ‘Jammu and Kashmir under the pressure of far-right nationalism’ in Istanbul Aydin University as well as ‘The Question of Kashmir’ and ‘From 05 August 2019, till today: endless martial law’ in Istanbul University – to mark the completion of one year of abrogation of Article 370.

Indian origin students are the targeted audience invited in these events and disgruntled students from the Kashmir valley and anti-India academicians are invited as speakers at these events.

Pakistan sponsored organizations like Kashmir Civitas and Kashmir Working Group also organized back to back events educational institutions of Turkey, propagating the pro-Pak narrative.

Turkey-Pakistan has also roped in organization floated by it for anti-India propaganda and subversion of Indian minds.

The list of organisations that have organised anti-India events on Kashmir issue includes the South Asia Strategic Research Centre (GASAM), Turkey Youth Foundation’s Regional Expert’s Training Programme (TUGVA’s BUYP), YTB, and many others.

The two major bodies tasked to build Erdogan’s image in the world by carrying out Turkish propaganda – Religious Affairs Directorates Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV) and Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) – were also roped in to organize such events in Turkish educational institutions.

The fact that YTB and TUGVA work under the directions of President Erdogan’s son Bilal Erdogan connotes the direct role being played by the Erdogan government in anti-India activities.

Pakistani ISI is working to utilize all the political factions in Turkish politics to capitalize on the Kashmir issue. It is using government-sponsored organizations like Turkiye Diyanet Foundation, GASAM, SETA etc to further its agenda on Kashmir. At the same time, it is also utilizing its connections with the opposition party — Islamist Saadet, by engaging Anadolu Youth Association (AGD), Asma Kopru, SDE, etc.

Besides organizing anti-India events in Turkey, it is also weaponsing education by subversion of Indian students. Its programmes are designed to achieve long term connection with Indian students and achieving long term goals.

The Diyanet Foundation, under the Directorate of Religious Affairs and Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), selectively target the middle class Muslims in India by providing them scholarships and stipends.

The YTB has already expressed its desire to take more Indian students in Turkey and alleged that Indian agencies are obstructing the granting of scholarships to such students.

Once students join Universities, they come under the influence of Turkey’s Federation of International Students Associations (UDEF). While studying in Turkey, most of them come in contact with the Indian Student’s Circle (ISC), which is controlled by the YTB and provides funding for organizing anti-India events.

The long-list of educational hotspots for anti-India activities include Istanbul University, Istanbul Sbahattin Zaim University, Ibn Haldun University, Anakar Yildirim Beyazit University, Erzurum Diplomasi Akademisi, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University, many more.

Besides the scholarship programme for higher education, the Diyanet is also running scholarship programme for Islamic theology and has provided scholarships to a number of Indian students from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala to study in Turkey to become Imams.

The Diyanet is also working to promote Islamic extremism in India. Similarly, the IHH is expanding its base in the Muslim dominated regions of India under the guise of welfare and humanitarian work. International experts have already warned India about the two organizations spreading their legs in India and radicalizing the Muslim populations to wage war against the Indian government.

Organisations under the direct control of Turkey Government — Union of NGOs of Islamic World (UNIW) and TUGVA have also made inroads amongst Muslim communities in India. UNIW is an alliance of 354 NGOs from 66 countries.  

Further, Bilal Erdogan’s TUGVA has made strong inroads within India by establishing connections with Islamic outfits in India, including Jamaat-e-Islamic Organisation’s student wing Student Islamic Organisation (SIO).

There is an entire nexus of Turkey government, Pakistani ISI NGOs, and Indian students — all coming together in educational institutions to carry out their anti-India agenda.

Though India has succeeded in checking the direct interference of such organizations in India, still these organizations continue to carry out the Turkish propaganda and making the proxies to work for them, they have been somewhat successful in taking Indian students to Turkey and send them back brainwashed.

The need of the hour is to ensure the gatekeeping of India students from the proxies of Turkey, operating in India.