While the Indian army is successfully repelling Pakistani aggression over border towns and cities, Indian startups and companies too seem to be doing their bit to corner Pakistan and its allies.
Ixigo has said it’s suspended flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan and China amid India’s conflict with Pakistan. “Enough is Enough! Blood and Bookings wont flow together. We are suspending all flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, China and Azerbaijan on ixigo,” Ixigo founder and CEO Aloke Bajpai posted on X.
Other travel companies too looked to dissuade Indian travelers from visiting these locations. “Travel Advisory!!!” wrote EaseMyTrip on X. “Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India & Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware. As Turkey & Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary. Stay informed. Travel responsibly,” it added.
Meanwhile Cox & Kings said it has decided to temporarily pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey.
The boycotts come after the growing intensity of the conflict between India and Pakistan, which had begun after Pakistan-backed terrorists had killed 26 Indian civilians in Pahalgam. In the clashes which have later ensued, Pakistan had used Turkey’s drones to attack Indian civilian areas. Cargo planes from Turkey had also been landing in Pakistan, indicating that the country could be supplying Pakistan with weapons. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, is an ally of Pakistan. “We condemn military attacks against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan that killed and injured several civilians,” a statement from Azerbaijan had said. “Being in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, we express condolences to the families of the innocent victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means,” Azerbaijan’s statement added.
Turkey and Azerbaijan are both popular destinations for Indian travelers. Turkey, in particular, has been promoting its travel offerings in India for a while, and promotes itself as a honeymoon destination. Turkish Airlines has also tied up with Indigo for codeshare flights which connect India to Europe and the US. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, is an up-and-coming player in India’s travel stage, and has become popular in recent years among Indian travelers for its Europe-like cityscapes at cheap prices. But prominent travel platforms are either now longer booking vacations to these countries, or are actively dissuading Indian travelers from visiting them. And with the Indian armed forces already putting Pakistan on the backfoot at the border, Indian companies also seem to be doing their part in isolating the countries that are supporting Pakistan amid the conflict.