Figen Yuksekdag: The Turkish government is not explicitly fighting against the terrorist group “Islamic State” (IS), but instead Kurdish forces.
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“They can not stay in this position”. Syrian Kurdish forces are in control of the majority of the almost 1,000 km. border with Turkey.
Figen Yuksekdag (born 1971) is a member of Turkish parliament and co-leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). The PKK accuse the Turkish government of aiding Isis, something that the government denies. However, while Turkey has carried out limited airstrikes against ISIS in northern Syria, it has shown more interest in targeting areas in northern Iraq held by the PKK – a move that has been criticized by many as being short-sighted. The latest fighting threatens a fragile peace process between the two sides. The idea that Kurds are getting more relevant in the regional scene has terrified Turkey.
“Based on recent movements and insecurity in Turkey’s east, the foreign ministry advises our citizens travelling to Turkey to avoid land routes until further notice and to use air routes”, a foreign ministry travel advisory read.
Ankara says its objective is to fight terrorism overseas and at home – by attacking PKK and IS.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bloody bombing offensive against camps of the Kurdistan Workers Party has the green light from the U.S. rulers.
In the past two weeks, Turkish air forces hit PKK camps in Bukriskan, Zerkeli and Inzeh in northern Iraq.
Turkey is actually inside the anti-ISIS combat – and it’s not clear are you aware of what happens next. In 2012 Ankara launched a peace process with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, jailed on Imrali island south of Istanbul. On his arms, hands and legs are red scars from an Isis rocket attack on the front lines near the city of Kirkuk.
An Ankara-based analyst said that another challenge will be the military’s involvement in Turkey’s ambitious indigenous programs, including a new-generation tank, drones, helicopters and even a fighter jet. Its fighters resumed attacks on Turkish forces.
Ankara and Washington are threatened by advances made by the increasingly confident Kurdish people recapturing Syrian towns taken by Islamic State. Turkey has vowed to crack down on its border security.
The upsurge in clashes comes at a time of political uncertainty in Turkey, where efforts to forge a coalition government after an inconclusive June election have yet to yield fruit and with a snap election emerging as a possibility.
Three people were killed and seven wounded during clashes between police and militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the town of Silopi, authorities said.
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“If the aim, as stated by the government, was to clear the border of the IS threat, the operation against IS in Syria appears to be weak and ineffective”, said Serkan Demirtas, columnist for Hurriyet Daily News.
