In a move seen as politically charged and retaliatory, the Indian government has abruptly revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India, a subsidiary of Turkey’s Celebi Aviation Holding, citing vague “national security concerns.” The decision appears to be a direct response to Turkey and Azerbaijan’s recent diplomatic support for Pakistan amid heightened Indo-Pak tensions.
According to the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, the action comes at a time when Indian citizens are reportedly cancelling trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan—an apparent nationalist backlash encouraged by growing intolerance towards dissenting international voices.
Celebi Aviation Holding, which operates critical ground-handling services at nine major Indian airports including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, has not yet commented on the politically sensitive development. However, Delhi International Airport authorities confirmed they have replaced Celebi’s services with AISATS and Brid Group following the sudden move.
India’s Deputy Civil Aviation Minister, Murlidhar Mohol, stated that the ministry had been receiving public demands to expel the Turkish firm. He offered no details or evidence to support the claims of national security threats, further fuelling concerns that the decision is driven more by political animosity than by objective security assessments.
Observers say the crackdown reflects a growing trend of state-led vindictiveness and shrinking space for international engagement in India. By targeting foreign companies perceived to be sympathetic to Pakistan, the Indian government risks further isolating itself diplomatically while projecting an increasingly authoritarian posture on the global stage.
