JNU suspends MoU with Inonu University over Turkey's support for Pakistan
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New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has suspended its academic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Turkiye’s Inonu University, citing national security concerns amid rising geopolitical tensions, university officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The MoU, signed on February 3 for a duration of three years, aimed to promote faculty and student exchange programmes, along with fostering cross-cultural academic collaboration. Inonu University, located in Malatya, Turkiye, had partnered with JNU as part of a broader effort to enhance international academic ties and research initiatives.
A senior JNU official told PTI, “We have suspended the MoU with Turkiye’s Inonu University. Under the pact, there were plans for faculty and student exchanges, among other collaborative programmes.”
The suspension comes in the wake of recent escalations between India and Pakistan. On May 10, the two countries agreed to a ceasefire after four days of intense military action involving drone and missile strikes across the border. The geopolitical fallout from these developments has prompted India to reassess its engagements with countries seen to be aligning with Pakistan.
India’s trade relations with Turkiye are also expected to be impacted, as Ankara has publicly backed Islamabad and criticised India’s recent airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan. In response to Turkiye’s stance, there have been growing calls across India for boycotts of Turkish goods and tourism.
Leading online travel platforms such as EaseMyTrip and Ixigo have issued advisories discouraging travel to Turkiye, reflecting the growing sentiment against the country among Indian citizens and businesses.
The suspension of the academic MoU underscores the widening impact of geopolitical tensions on educational and cultural exchanges, with national security increasingly influencing academic partnerships.
With PTI inputs