LPU Cuts Ties with Turkiye, Azerbaijan Post-Sindoor
Lovely Professional University (LPU), a leading private university based in Punjab’s Phagwara, has announced the termination of all academic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with institutions in Turkiye and Azerbaijan. The decision follows public displays of support by both countries for Pakistan after India’s successful execution of Operation Sindoor.
LPU Responds to Operation Sindoor with Decisive Action
“When our brave armed forces are risking their lives – whether in covert operations, air defence, or patrolling our borders – we, as an institution, cannot remain indifferent. LPU’s mission has always been aligned with the growth and integrity of India, and we will never associate with any institution that undermines India’s sovereignty,” said Ashok Kumar Mittal, LPU’s Founder Chancellor and sitting Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party.
The move reflects LPU’s stated commitment to national interest and aligns with the sentiment of many citizens who saw the international reactions to Operation Sindoor as a test of allegiance. India’s missile-led strikes during the operation, conducted in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, exposed deep geopolitical fault lines in South Asia’s diplomatic circles.
Impacted Partnerships and Scope of Termination
The cancelled MoUs involved a broad range of academic cooperation, including faculty and student exchange programs, dual degree arrangements, and joint research collaborations. While exact institutions have not been named, sources confirm that multiple universities in both Turkiye and Azerbaijan were covered under LPU’s former international academic outreach efforts.
The administration clarified that this decision was not symbolic, but a complete revocation of existing ties, and no further partnerships with institutions from these two countries would be considered until there was clarity on their diplomatic posture vis-a-vis India.
Growing Trend of Academic Reassessment Across India
LPU is not alone in its stance. Other Indian institutions, including Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) have also paused or ended collaborations with Turkish universities. Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) in Kanpur followed suit, and the University of Delhi is reportedly reviewing its partnerships as well.
These coordinated moves signal a deeper strategic realignment within India’s higher education sector, where national security and geopolitical alignment are becoming factors in shaping academic diplomacy. As Operation Sindoor recalibrates India’s regional doctrine, it appears the ripple effects are being felt across campuses nationwide.
