Indian Media Accuses Turkey of Delhi Bombing Connection; Ankara Denounces Claims as Disinformation

Indian authorities have labeled the recent Delhi car explosion as a “terrorist incident” while Turkish officials have vehemently denied allegations from Indian media linking the attack to Türkiye.

The November 10 blast, which claimed 12 lives and injured 30 others, occurred near a metro station adjacent to the historic Red Fort in Old Delhi—a significant landmark where Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers the nation’s Independence Day address annually. The attack stands as the deadliest in India’s capital in over ten years.

India’s Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Modi, issued a strong condemnation on Wednesday, describing the attack as “heinous and cowardly” and affirming “zero tolerance toward terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.” The Cabinet has directed authorities to swiftly identify and prosecute “the perpetrators, their collaborators, and their sponsors.”

In the aftermath of the explosion, several prominent Indian news outlets including India Today and The Economic Times have published reports suggesting potential foreign connections to the attack. These reports, citing unnamed police sources, have alleged that suspects involved in the bombing had ties to Türkiye. According to these accounts, one suspect, Dr. Muzammil Shakil Ganaye, reportedly traveled to Türkiye in recent months.

Some reports have gone further, claiming that the suicide bomber visited Türkiye and planned the attack while there, with alleged support from an Ankara-based contact. The Economic Times suggested that this purported connection “indicates that India-focused terror operations have expanded beyond Pakistan,” a traditional rival of India often accused of harboring terrorists.

Turkish authorities have responded forcefully to these allegations. On Wednesday, Türkiye’s Center for Combating Disinformation (DMM) released a statement characterizing the reports as part of a “malicious disinformation campaign” designed to damage bilateral relations between the two countries.

“The deliberate reports in certain Indian media outlets claiming that Türkiye is linked to terrorist acts in India and provides logistical, diplomatic, and financial support to terrorist groups are part of a malicious disinformation campaign aimed at damaging bilateral relations,” the DMM stated on social platform X.

The Turkish agency emphasized its country’s commitment to counterterrorism efforts, noting Türkiye’s active support for the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its central role in NATO’s counterterrorism framework. “The claim that Türkiye engages in radicalization activities targeting India or any other country is purely disinformative and lacks any factual basis,” the statement continued.

The DMM urged the public to dismiss these “unfounded and manipulative reports,” suggesting they aim to “undermine Türkiye’s efforts for global security, stability, and peace.”

Indian police have initiated an investigation under counterterrorism law and are working to determine critical details including the explosives’ origin, the bomber’s identity, and potential international connections. Officials have released limited confirmed information thus far.

The bombing represents India’s most severe security incident since April 22, when 26 civilians were killed in an explosion in Indian-administered Kashmir, an attack that intensified tensions with neighboring Pakistan.

In his public statements, Prime Minister Modi has described the Delhi bombing as a “conspiracy” perpetrated by anti-national forces and called for urgent investigative action.

As investigations continue, no group has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, leaving questions about motive and organization unanswered.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of complex geopolitical relationships in the region, with India maintaining vigilance against what it perceives as external terrorist threats, particularly from neighboring Pakistan. The allegations involving Türkiye represent a new dimension in India’s security concerns, though Turkish officials have categorically rejected any connection to the attack.