India has revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India, a subsidiary of Turkey’s Celebi Aviation Holding, citing national security concerns, according to a statement from the country’s civil aviation ministry on Thursday.
This move came just a day after reports indicated that Indian holidaymakers were canceling trips to popular tourist destinations in Turkey and Azerbaijan, following both nations’ support for Pakistan during the recent conflict with India.
Celebi Aviation Holding, which operates ground services at several major airports across India, including those in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, has not yet responded to the decision.
India’s Deputy Civil Aviation Minister, Murlidhar Mohol, confirmed the revocation, stating that the government had received multiple requests from across India to sever ties with Celebi Airport Services. However, he did not provide specific details regarding the nature of these requests. “Given the gravity of the matter and the need to safeguard national interests, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to revoke the security clearance,” Mohol announced on social media platform X.
Protests were held in Mumbai by the Shiv Sena party, a key ally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, calling for the severing of ties between the city’s airport and the Turkish company.
The diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan escalated last week when Indian airstrikes targeted what it claimed were “terrorist camps” in Pakistan. This retaliation came after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 Indian soldiers, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan denied any involvement, and both countries exchanged missile and drone strikes targeting military facilities. A fragile ceasefire was established on Saturday.
In the aftermath, both Turkey and Azerbaijan expressed their support for Pakistan, leading to a suspension of travel plans by many Indians. Additionally, India’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) announced the suspension of its academic partnership with a Turkish institution, citing national security concerns. The university stated that its memorandum of understanding with Inonu University in Turkey would remain suspended “until further notice.”
