No 'Thanksgiving' For Operation Dost As Turkey's Drones Join Pakistan's Flock Against India

Last Updated:May 09, 2025, 19:58 IST

On Friday, New Delhi found that it was Turkish-made drones, nearly 300-400 in number, that were fired by Pakistan at 36 locations in India across the western border

Several Pakistani drones were seen being shot down by Indian air defences in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan as air sirens rang out. (Image: Sourced)

When Turkey was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2023, India started Operation Dost to become the first country to come to Ankara’s assistance. Along with NDRF and aid, India sent Garuda Aerospace drones to help those trapped in the rubble and modified Kisan drones to carry medication and food.

But in a rude discovery on Friday, New Delhi found that it was Turkish-made drones, nearly 300-400 in number, that were fired by Pakistan at 36 locations in India across the western border, from Leh to Sir Creek. Officials said the debris recovered by India showed that these were SONGAR ASISGUARD drones of Turkey. This is the first national armed drone that has been used by the Turkish Armed Forces.

This now raises the speculation that it was these drones that were supplied by Turkey to Pakistan when the C-130E Hercules plane had landed in Karachi on April 28, less than a week after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. On April 30, a high-ranking Turkish military and intelligence delegation, headed by Lt Gen Yasar Kadioglu, visited the Pakistan Air Force headquarters in Islamabad and met the Pakistani air chief.

Government sources say all these developments show that it is time for India to corner Turkey diplomatically, strategically, and globally, given it is now clear which camp Ankara stands in. Even in its stance and statements after the Pahalgam terror strike, the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken a full pro-Pakistan line, officials point out. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Erdogan have rarely met, last on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi in 2023.

Incidentally, Turkey’s tourism industry depends in a big way on Indian visitors. In 2023, nearly 2.75 lakh Indian tourists visited Turkey, and the number rose by over 20% to 3.25 lakh in 2024. Indian carriers like IndiGo have been running direct flights to Istanbul. In that spirit, India also sent a C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force to Turkey with personnel and aid in 2023 after the devastating earthquake.

But it seems India, and Indians, will now have to change their approach to Turkey, which stands clearly in the Pakistan camp.

News india No 'Thanksgiving' For Operation Dost As Turkey's Drones Join Pakistan's Flock Against India