BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB
DOHA: Some advanced countries who support PKK terrorists are deliberately spreading opportunistic misinformation to undermine Turkey’s counter-terrorism efforts against the extremist group, Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Demirok said yesterday.
Some analysts believe PKK, the Kurdish armed separatist group, is fighting a common enemy, Daesh (Islamic State or IS) in Iraq and Syria and should not be weakened by using “disproportionate” force.
But Turkey and most of its allies consider PKK an extremist group involved in scores of terrorist activities and deserves no sympathy.
Turkey has launched a massive attack against PKK and IS and vowed to eliminate every single terrorist from its soil.
“It should be noted that a terrorist organisation cannot be cleared from its terrorist nature just because it is fighting another terrorist organisation,” Ahmet Demirok told a press conference.
“Baseless propaganda by PKK should not misguide the global public opinion.
“There seems to be a misperception and shallow evaluation of operations being carried out against PKK targets,” he added.
According to a report attributed to a German defence ministry source, Kurdish forces in northern Iraq fighting IS militants, were allegedly attacked with chemical weapons a few days ago. However, the unnamed spokesperson at the ministry did not identify the suspect(s).
Turkey’s military campaign, according to Demirok, has no relation with Kurdish-origin people and targets camps and bases of the terrorist group.
The ambassador said Turkey had been very patient with PKK because of the “reconciliation process”, but the group had continued terror attacks on public properties, police and security forces.
“This year, PKK has conducted some 2,173 terrorist attacks against gas and oil pipelines, trains, transport vehicles, construction machines and other facilities.
“The unstable environment in Iraq and Syria makes it more pressing for Turkey to take precautions and prevent any adverse security impacts.
“Turkey has been indicating the direct and imminent threat from terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq. Accordingly, the UN and Nato are continuously informed about incidents along Turkish borders.”
On July 20, a suicide bomber attacked in the city of Suruç, killing 32 people and wounding 104.
Demirok said the attack was carried out by IS and prior to it, the group had attacked an HDP meeting in Diyarbak?r. “After two days of Suruç attack, PKK killed two police officers asleep in their apartment.”
As a result, Turkey has started its fight against all terrorists organisations. “This is a war on multiple fronts, facing enemies with different backgrounds and ideologies.
“This is an effort requiring well-coordinated actions outside and inside Turkey. This also needs a greater level of international cooperation and solidarity,” he said.
Demirok said during initial operations targeting IS, about 700 people were detained. During last operations, over 130 with suspected IS links were arrested, including two suspected suicide bombers. These operations will continue.
THE PENINSULA
