The Government of India has blocked the X account of Turkish state broadcaster TRT World within the country, citing its role in spreading misinformation and narratives that are hostile to India’s domestic and foreign policies. While this action followed the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22 and India’s subsequent military response, Operation Sindoor, it also believes that TRT World’s activities have long been under scrutiny. The broadcaster has consistently framed India in a negative light, particularly with regard to Kashmir.
TRT World has focused on fringe voices critical of India while sidelining official narratives. Its reporting on Kashmir is often emotionally charged, selectively presenting facts and portraying the region as a war zone under military siege. Documentaries and special reports by TRT World have accused India of human rights violations and depicted the Indian Army as an oppressive force. These narratives are not intended for Turkish audiences but are specifically designed to influence Western and Muslim-majority countries by undermining India’s global standing.
TRT in Boycott India Campaigns and QTPi Nexus
TRT World’s activities are part of the Muslim Brotherhood, Pakistan, and Jamaat-e-Islami nexus. A major example was the October 2021 #BoycottIndianProducts campaign. TRT Nexus narrated it as a spontaneous Arab reaction to India’s treatment of minorities, but it was later found to be an orchestrated social media operation based on fake news and videos.
This campaign marked the first known coordination between Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan, dubbed the QTPi nexus, with support from Muslim Brotherhood networks. Key MB figures like Mohamed Al Sagheer, Sami Kamal El-Din, and Al Jazeera journalists Yasser Abu Hilalah and Ahmad Muaffaq Zaidan (linked to Al-Qaeda) participated. Media platforms, including Al Jazeera, TRT World, Rassd News, Arabi21, and Al-Araby TV, amplified the campaign. The movement resembled the Palestinian-led BDS campaign targeting Israel, aiming to damage India economically and diplomatically. Pro-PTI Pakistani troll accounts and IT cells, such as @WeareTeamGP and @EmergingTeam, picked up the boycott hashtag, circulated fake videos, and promoted Pakistani products, especially rice, in the Gulf markets. Pakistani journalists like Huzaifah Farid, Aman Ur Rehman, and Shahid Raza played a key role. These networks had also targeted France and Saudi Arabia in similar campaigns due to their closeness to India.
Beyond Journalism: TRT World’s Information War Against India
TRT World’s coverage, coupled with its involvement in coordinated campaigns like the BDS-inspired boycott, poses not only a reputational risk but also a potential threat to India’s economic and strategic interests abroad. It is designed to harm India’s national interests. Given this broader context, TRT World’s reporting goes beyond journalism into the realm of information warfare. Therefore, blocking the outlet is seen as a necessary move to protect India’s security, international reputation, and diplomatic relationships.
