Within the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions, there may be rising alarm over Turkish firm Celebi Aviation’s function in high-security actions at main Indian airports. That is at the same time as Turkey has allegedly offered drones and employees to Pakistan in latest days in the course of the navy showdown that adopted India’s counter-terror assaults underneath Operation Sindoor.
Celebi Aviation, the three way partnership with Indian operations since 2008, is presently managing key ground-handling and cargo operations at eight main Indian airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. The corporate handles greater than 58,000 flights every year in India and has roughly 7,800 folks on its payroll.
In keeping with India Immediately, Defence officers stated that Turkey had not solely provided drones of navy high quality but additionally educated pilots to assist Pakistan in its unsuccessful swarming of Indian air defence techniques on Might 7. The mixed drone and missile assault was allegedly meant to overwhelm Indian defences after Indian retaliatory strikes in opposition to terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Whereas Turkey has taken a extra pronounced pro-Pakistan stance underneath President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — together with vocal help on Kashmir — its function in aiding Pakistan’s navy operations has triggered crimson flags inside Indian safety circles, particularly in mild of Celebi’s presence in delicate airport zones.
Celebi Aviation’s airside employees function in airside areas — high-security zones with direct airport-to-aircraft and worldwide cargo entry. These jobs contain in depth background screenings and Airport Entry Passes (AEPs) from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS). All of Celebi Aviation’s providers in India, comparable to plane ramp dealing with, passenger providers, baggage dealing with, and cargo warehousing, have safety issues.
Though it’s registered in Indian entities — Celebi Airport Companies India and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Administration — the Turkish background of the corporate and its alleged navy alignment with Pakistan are sure to elicit nearer examination.
Celebi has additionally proven curiosity in shopping for Air India’s ground-handling enterprise (AIASL) throughout Air India’s privatisation in 2016, reflecting its long-term strategic curiosity in India’s aviation business. It now collaborates with a number of Indian and abroad carriers, comparable to IndiGo and Air India.
India had offered Turkey with humanitarian help in the course of the crippling 2023 earthquake underneath Operation Dost. Nonetheless, the brand new revelations of Pakistan receiving Turkish navy help may have an effect on bilateral belief in areas that cowl vital infrastructure in addition to issues of nationwide safety.
Authorities places of work are but to make an official announcement concerning the assessment of operations by Celebi within the face of Turkey and Pakistan’s new navy cooperation.