PKK vs. Turkey and Iran |  Print |
Tuesday , 22 August 2006
Kubilay ATASOYU, Ankara, JTW - Artillery shells fired from Iran landed in the PKK armed bases in Northern Iraq. It is reported that many PKK militants were killed and many more were wounded. At the same time Turkish Army has been bombing the bases. Turkish military is sharing intelligence on the PKK in the region with Iran. The PKK is a terrorist organization according to the Turkish, Iranian, American and European laws.
Following the recent killing one of the top commanders of the Iranian security forces by the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the PKK's name in Iran, Iran has escalated its attacks on Qandil (Kandil) mountains. The PKK has at least 10 camps in and around Qandil region. Turkey has also bombed the region.
The PKK has had armed training and military camps in Northern Iraq for the years. The US promised to remove all of these camps during the Iraq war, yet no concrete step has been taken. Turks blamed the US of not combating against the PKK terrorism. Turkish security expert Prof. Dr. Ihsan Bal argues that the PKK issue undermines Turkey-US relations.
Heavy shelling of Qandil took place last week, with bombs as well as heavy caliber gunfire raining down on the area. The PKK lost its many militants in the attacks.
Scores of PKK terrorists and supporters have fled their bases in the northern frontier region after four days of shelling by the Iranian and Turkish army. Kurdist PKK media reported that at least eight Iranian troops were killed, but the Iranian sources have not confirmed it.
"We would not hesitate to take every kind of measures when our security is at stake," Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said last week. According to Mr. Gul, the PKK is a terrorist organisation and all sides should combat against the PKK terrorism. However it is known that the Barzani forces in Iraq have given logistic support to the PKK militants. The PKK has freely opened offices in the Northern Iraq cities under Barzani and Talabani control. Turkey accuses Barzani of supporting terrorism in the region. Turkish Iraq experts told the JTW that Turkey-Iraqi Kurdish relations cannot develop due to the PKK problem. Dr Sedat Laciner for instance blames the PKK terrorism for Turkish-Kurdish tension in Iraq:
"Turkey is the only country which can guarantee the Kurdish security and welfare. Even the Americans or any coalition cannot help the Kurds in Iraq. Turkey is a great market for the Iraqi Kurds and the Turkish border gates are more important than the oil wells. Turkey seeks to improve its relations with Barzani and Talabani. However as long as the Iraqi Kurds allow the PKK terrorists in Iraq, Turkish military operations will continue in Iraqi territories and both sides cannot be in real co-operation though Iraq needs Turkish-Kurdish co-operation desperately."
Kubilay ATASOYU, JTW
22 August 2006
Following the recent killing one of the top commanders of the Iranian security forces by the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the PKK's name in Iran, Iran has escalated its attacks on Qandil (Kandil) mountains. The PKK has at least 10 camps in and around Qandil region. Turkey has also bombed the region.
The PKK has had armed training and military camps in Northern Iraq for the years. The US promised to remove all of these camps during the Iraq war, yet no concrete step has been taken. Turks blamed the US of not combating against the PKK terrorism. Turkish security expert Prof. Dr. Ihsan Bal argues that the PKK issue undermines Turkey-US relations.
Heavy shelling of Qandil took place last week, with bombs as well as heavy caliber gunfire raining down on the area. The PKK lost its many militants in the attacks.
Scores of PKK terrorists and supporters have fled their bases in the northern frontier region after four days of shelling by the Iranian and Turkish army. Kurdist PKK media reported that at least eight Iranian troops were killed, but the Iranian sources have not confirmed it.
"We would not hesitate to take every kind of measures when our security is at stake," Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said last week. According to Mr. Gul, the PKK is a terrorist organisation and all sides should combat against the PKK terrorism. However it is known that the Barzani forces in Iraq have given logistic support to the PKK militants. The PKK has freely opened offices in the Northern Iraq cities under Barzani and Talabani control. Turkey accuses Barzani of supporting terrorism in the region. Turkish Iraq experts told the JTW that Turkey-Iraqi Kurdish relations cannot develop due to the PKK problem. Dr Sedat Laciner for instance blames the PKK terrorism for Turkish-Kurdish tension in Iraq:
"Turkey is the only country which can guarantee the Kurdish security and welfare. Even the Americans or any coalition cannot help the Kurds in Iraq. Turkey is a great market for the Iraqi Kurds and the Turkish border gates are more important than the oil wells. Turkey seeks to improve its relations with Barzani and Talabani. However as long as the Iraqi Kurds allow the PKK terrorists in Iraq, Turkish military operations will continue in Iraqi territories and both sides cannot be in real co-operation though Iraq needs Turkish-Kurdish co-operation desperately."
Kubilay ATASOYU, JTW
22 August 2006
