Shashi Tharoor meets Turkish envoy, tells him 'major efforts needed to overcome mistrust'

Congress MP from Kerala, Shashi Tharoor, met Turkish Ambassador to India Ali Murat Ersoy on Wednesday for what he described as an honest and direct discussion on the current strain in India–Turkey relations.

Tharoor said the relationship has suffered in recent months and rebuilding trust will not be easy. He told the envoy that “major efforts will be needed to overcome the mistrust that has arisen in recent months". At the same time, he acknowledged that Ersoy “is determined to improve the lines of communication with our country".

Welcomed the Turkish Ambassador, Mr Ali Murat Ersoy, for a candid and constructive exchange on the recent difficulties and frustrations hampering our two countries’ relations. The Ambassador is determined to improve the lines of communication with our country, but it’s clear that… pic.twitter.com/W20bfybWLo

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 26, 2025

Sharing details of the meeting on social media along with photographs, Tharoor said, “Welcomed the Turkish Ambassador, Mr Ali Murat Ersoy, for a candid and constructive exchange on the recent difficulties and frustrations hampering our two countries’ relations."

Ties between India and Turkey have remained tense for some time. The strain deepened after Ankara repeatedly criticised India’s policy on Kashmir and aligned itself with Pakistan at global forums. In October, the Indian government chose not to attend events marking Turkey’s National Day on October 29. Sources said senior officials were advised against participating in the celebrations hosted by Ankara.

The relationship worsened further after Turkey expressed solidarity with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan had met Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and conveyed support in what he described as “India’s unprovoked violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty" at the time.

Operation Sindoor was India’s counterterror operation aimed at dismantling terrorist hubs in Pakistan after Pakistan-trained terrorists killed 26 civilians in the town of Pahalgam.

Following these developments, public sentiment in India also shifted, with many Indians boycotting travel to Turkey. This came after reports emerged that Turkish Songar drones were used by the Pakistan Army to target Indian military bases and civilian infrastructure.

Apart from his engagement with the Turkish envoy, Tharoor also met Mumin Chen, the representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India. The two discussed ways to strengthen economic and technology cooperation. Tharoor said he encouraged Chen to explore potential Taiwanese investments in Kerala’s expanding IT sector. During the meeting, the ambassador presented him with a handcrafted painting depicting a street scene from 1930s Taipei.