India–Turkey relations
India–Turkey relations (; ), also called Indian-Turkish relations or Indo-Turkish relations are the bilateral relations between India and Turkey. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Turkey in 1948, political and bilateral relations have been usually characterised by warmth and cordiality, although some sporadic tensions remain due to Turkey's support for Pakistan, India's rival and India's continued support for Armenia, Greece and Cyprus against Turkey. India has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate–general in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in New Delhi and also a consulate-general in Mumbai. As of 2015, the bilateral trade between India and Turkey stood at US$6.26 billion. History Economic and cultural relations between ancient India and Anatolia date back to the Vedic age (before 1500 BCE). In 1212, the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum was gifted a colony in Koothanallur from the Chola Emperor of Tamilakam. The first exchange of diplomatic missions between the Ottoman Sultans and the Muslim rulers of the sub-continent dates back to the years 1481–82. Ottoman expeditions to the sultanates of Gujarat, Bijapur, and Ahmednagar were motivated by mutual anti-Portuguese sentiment; Ottoman artillery contributed to the fall of the pro-Portuguese Vijayanagara Empire. Turkish-Indian relations soured when the Mughals conquered most of India, since the Mughal Empire was a symbolic threat to the Ottoman Empire's position as the universal caliphate, despite contemplation for a Mughal-Ottoman-Uzbek alliance against Iran. After the Mughal Empire collapsed, Muslim rulers of Mysore like Tipu Sultan sought Ottoman aid in driving out the British, but the Ottomans were weakened by wars with Russia and in no position to help. From the 15th to the 19th century, Indian Dervishes came to the Ottoman Empire and built Tekke, the so-called Hintli Tekkeler. Their names are recorded in the Ottoman archives. Their descendants are called "Hindis", especially in Istanbul where they have settled. More recently, the connection was increasingly fostered in the 19th and 20th centuries due to interactions between the two countries. In 1912–1913, during the First Balkan War, Indian Muslim men in the Red Crescent Society of India cared for wounded Ottoman soldiers. They were led by Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari and Abdur Rahman Peshawari. During World War I, the British Raj played a pivotal role in the successful Allied campaign against the Ottoman Empire. In the 1920s, India extended support to Turkey's War of Independence and the formation of the Turkish republic. Mahatma Gandhi took a stand against the injustices inflicted on Turkey at the end of World War I. Turkey recognised India after the Indian Independence Act 1947, and diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. During the Cold War, Turkey was part of the Western Bloc and India was part of the Non-Aligned Movement. Since the end of the Cold War, both sides have worked to develop their relations. Relations between India and Turkey have been strained due to Turkey's religious mutuality with Pakistan. Until recently, Turkey was a vocal advocate of Pakistan's position on the Kashmir dispute. Turkey was also one of the