Four Indian universities including JNU, Jamia suspend MoUs with Turkish institutions

At least four Indian universities including Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Kanpur University and Hyderabad’s Maulana Azad National Urdu University have suspended or cancelled Memoranda of Understanding with Turkish institutions in response to Ankara’s support for Pakistan following the recent rise in tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Jawaharlal Nehru University was the first to act on Wednesday by suspending its agreement with Inonu University, followed by Jamia Millia Islamia announcing that it was suspending any Memorandum of Understanding with “any institution affiliated with the Government of the Republic of Türkiye”.

Kanpur University announced that it has withdrawn its agreement with Istanbul University and Maulana Azad National Urdu University said it cancelled the deal with Yunus Emre Institute on Thursday.

All institutions cited “national security” concerns for their decisions to cancel the academic exchange programmes.

“Due to National Security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Turkiye stands suspended until further notice,” the Delhi-based university announced. “JNU stands with the Nation.”

Jamia Milia Islamia and Maulana Azad National Urdu University too made similar announcements on X.

India Today quoted Kanpur University as saying: “This move is a direct consequence of Turkey assuming a critical geopolitical stance to join hands with a nation which is openly hostile to India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.”...

Read more

News