TREADING WITH CAUTION

In the complex landscape of international diplomacy, public sentiment often seeks swift and symbolic responses to geopolitical events.

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The current demand in certain Indian quarters to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan—triggered by their perceived tilt towards Pakistan on matters of core national interest—must be weighed with strategic maturity rather than impetuous emotion.

The recent flashpoints—Turkey's repeated commentary on Jammu & Kashmir at multilateral forums, and Azerbaijan's vocal alignment with Islamabad—have understandably ruffled feathers in India.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's stance on Kashmir, particularly his statements at the UN General Assembly, has been viewed in India as an intrusion into its internal affairs.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan, a close ally of both Turkey and Pakistan through the trilateral cooperation format, has also echoed positions that do not sit well with Indian sovereignty and territorial sensitivities.

Yet, while the temptation to respond through economic or cultural boycotts is strong, especially in an era where global diplomacy often plays out on social media timelines and consumer choices, India must act with strategic prudence.

Foreign policy is not governed by hashtags or spontaneous consumer decisions—it is calibrated over decades, and must balance short-term public pressure with long-term national interest.