‘Exercise Utmost Caution,’ India Issues Advisory To Nationals Visiting Turkey Amid Strained Ties

In the advisory the government has asked the citizens to exercise utmost caution while traveling to Turkey and has said that those requiring assistance may get in touch with Indian Mission/ Posts through helpline numbers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi /(Photo by RAVEENDRAN / AFP)

New Delhi: Days after calling off Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Turkey, India has now issued  a travel advisory for its nationals visiting Turkey, asking them to exercise utmost caution, while traveling to the Middle East nation. In the advisory the government has asked the citizens to exercise utmost caution while traveling to Turkey and has said that those requiring assistance may get in touch with Indian Mission/ Posts through helpline numbers. "Government of India has been receiving queries from Indian nationals on travelling to Turkey in view of the situation in the region. Although there have been no reports of untoward incidents in the country so far involving Indian nationals, travellers are requested to exercise utmost caution while travelling to Turkey," the Indian Embassy in Ankara tweeted. Helpline numbers of the Indian Embassy and Consulate General of Istanbul have been mentioned for those requiring assistance. (Embassy of India, Ankara: 903124408259 & 903124382195/ Ext. 111) (Consulate General of Istanbul: 902122962131 & 902122962132)

Travel Advisory@MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @IndianAmbAnkara @CGI_Istanbul @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/AFkO6tJA0A

— India in Turkey (@IndianEmbassyTR) October 22, 2019

PM Modi was scheduled to go on a two-day official visit to Ankara at the end of this month which would have been his first stand-alone visit to Turkey. However, due to strained relations developed lately between the two countries, PM cancelled his visit. India gave a cold shoulder to Turkey as its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly raised Kashmir issue  which is a matter internal to India at the recent United Nations General Assembly and made statements against abrogation of Article 370. Turkey had also backed Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meet in Paris.