Turkey Backs Islamabad Amid India-Pakistan Tensions, But Silently Banks On IndiGo, Here’s How

Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, the arrival of a Turkish C-130E military transport aircraft raised speculations about its material assistance to Islamabad. As the incident garnered attention, the Turkish government clarified that the aircraft landed in Pakistan solely for refuelling purpose.

Apart from this incident, there have been instances where Turkey has voiced its support for Pakistan, especially on the Kashmir issue. Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines, the country's leading carrier, continues to operate a long-standing codeshare agreement with India's IndiGo.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif brought up the 'Kashmir issue' during his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on April 22, which coincided with the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir. As Pakistan continues to enjoy Turkey's support on the matter, here's a look at the long-standing codeshare agreement between Turkish Airlines and IndiGo.

What Is IndiGo-Turkey's Codeshare Pact?

The codeshare agreement between Turkey and IndiGo allows the two carriers to sell tickets on each other's flights for passengers. The facility lets travellers travel under one airline's flight number.

Turkish Airlines Benefit From Codeshare Pact With IndiGo

The agreement between the two carriers is likely to benefit both airlines. However, Turkish Airlines has been benefiting the most from the bilateral pact with IndiGo, as per an Economic Times report.

Turkish Airlines-IndiGo Pact Covers Locations Across Europe, USA

The collaboration between IndiGo and Turkish Airlines is operational over more than thirty destinations across Europe. As per the agreement, travellers can book a ticket with a single passenger number to Istanbul and more than thirty other locations.

Several locations in the United States are also covered under the bilateral agreement. In 2024, the company added four more US cities, including Houston and Atlanta, through its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines. As per ET report, the agreement also covers other US locations like New York, Washington, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco.

IndiGo Codeshare Pact With Other Airlines

Apart from Turkish Airlines, IndiGo has a codeshare agreement with other airlines as well. It has partnered with American Airlines for locations like New York and Seattle. The low-cost Indian airline has similar agreements with nearly nine airlines as on December 2024. IndiGo has a fleet of more than 350 planes and operates around 2,100 daily flights which connects nearly 85 domestic and 30 international destinations.

Turkey's Support For Pakistan

There have been instances where Turkish President Erdogan has supported Pakistan's stance on Kashmir in past as well. While Shehbaz Sharif brought the Kashmir issue during his Turkey visit last week, Erdogan didn't forget to back Pakistan on the matter during his two-day visit to the country in February 2025.

"The Kashmir issue should be addressed according to the UN resolution through dialogue and keeping in mind the aspirations of the people of Kashmir," Erdogan said in February this year.

His statement sparked a strong reaction from the Indian government where the Ministry of External Affairs asserted its stance that Jammu and Kashmir are "integral parts of India". The government made it clear that any comments on India's territorial integrity are unacceptable.

Pahalgam Terror Attack

Twenty-five Indian nationals and one Nepalese national was shot dead by terrorists in a meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. The terror attack sparked strong diplomatic actions from India which terminated Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and closed Attari Border. Reciprocating India's decision, Pakistan shut its airspace for Indian airlines and criticised Indian government's actions.