What’s the Deal with Asisguard and Its Role in India?
Just days after India canceled the security clearance of Turkish aviation firm Celebi Airport Services India due to Turkey’s support for Pakistan, another Turkish company from Ankara, Asisguard, is now under the microscope. Asisguard, a defence firm, has a ₹230 crore contract to install Automatic Fare Collection systems for the Bhopal and Indore Metro projects in Madhya Pradesh. But here’s the troubling part: Asisguard also produces Songar armed drones—Turkey’s first homegrown armed drones, which can carry machine guns, grenade launchers, or electronic warfare payloads.
These drones, originally used by the Turkish military, were deployed by Pakistan in a massive 300–400-drone offensive against India during Operation Sindoor, launched after the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan targeted 36 locations, including military bases like Bathinda, radar sites, and civilian areas from Leh to Sir Creek, with a chilling attempted kamikaze drone strike on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, plus other targets in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. Experts say the attack aimed to test India’s air defence systems and collect intelligence, making Asisguard’s involvement in Indian infrastructure a major national security red flag.
We now know that Pakistan tried to hit the Golden Temple with drones. Not a military base—Sikhism’s holiest shrine and the pride of all Indians. This isn’t war, it’s a terrorist state’s attack on faith itself. Cowardly. Anti-Sikh. Morally bankrupt. pic.twitter.com/neBYPoDzH4
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) May 19, 2025
Why Is Madhya Pradesh Launching This Investigation Now?
The timing of this probe ties directly to recent developments. On May 15, 2025, India revoked Celebi’s security clearance after Turkey backed Pakistan during the latest India-Pakistan tensions, a decision the Delhi High Court supported, emphasizing a “better safe than sorry” approach. Now, Asisguard is in the hot seat because its Songar drones were used against India during Operation Sindoor. On May 20, 2025, Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya ordered a detailed investigation into Asisguard’s role in the metro projects.
CAN THIS GO ON?
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) May 20, 2025
Turkish company Asis Guard, that manufactures killer drones used by Pakistan against India during Op Sindoor is currently involved in setting up digital systems of the Bhopal and Indore Metro projects. pic.twitter.com/2CMKVYWIBA
He stated that if the company is linked—directly or indirectly—to anti-India activities, its contract will be canceled immediately. This move reflects India’s heightened focus on national security amid ongoing tensions with Pakistan and Turkey’s alignment with them, especially after the May 10, 2025, ceasefire along the Line of Control.
How Does This Relate to India’s Larger Geopolitical Challenges?
Let’s take a broader look. Operation Sindoor revealed what many are calling a “China-Turkey-Pakistan axis.” Reports indicate Turkey not only supplied drones to Pakistan but may have had operators assisting in attacks on Indian targets—a betrayal that’s particularly bitter since India provided aid to Turkey after its 2023 earthquake. Turkey’s support for Pakistan has worsened India-Turkey relations, and the Asisguard probe echoes the Celebi case, showing India’s firm stance against foreign companies tied to adversaries. India is also advancing its own defence capabilities, like the Bhargavastra counter-drone system, which neutralized many of Pakistan’s Turkish drones during the conflict. On X, people are vocal, labeling Asisguard’s role a “security threat” and calling for tighter scrutiny of foreign contracts in critical infrastructure, especially given the strategic implications of this trilateral dynamic.
What Might This Mean for India’s Security and Infrastructure Future?
This investigation could have significant ripple effects. If Asisguard is found to be involved in anti-India activities, scrapping its contract would send a clear message to other foreign firms: India puts national security first. While this might delay the Bhopal and Indore Metro projects, the trade-off for safety is worth it. It also highlights India’s drive for self-reliance—since banning imported drones in 2021, India has boosted domestic tech like the D4S anti-drone system. More broadly, this situation shows the challenge of managing global partnerships while safeguarding national interests, especially with Pakistan as a rival and Turkey’s role in the mix. With events like the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan talks happening today, India’s focus on security is sharper than ever, and this probe is a critical piece of that puzzle.
