Pakistani security and political experts said Turkey's counter-terrorism operation in northern Syria would ensure durable regional peace and security.
Pakistani security and political experts said Turkey’s counter-terrorism operation in northern Syria would ensure durable regional peace and security.
“Turkey’s operation to secure its borders is justified. Like any other sovereign country, Ankara is within its right to secure its people and borders,” Ikram Sehgal, a Karachi-based defense and security analyst, told Anadolu Agency.
“No sovereign country can allow terrorists to operate on its borders, and pose a permanent threat to its security,” he said.
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Orthodox Jews in US support Turkish Peace Spring Operation
Orthodox Jews stage a demonstration to show their support for Turkish Peace Spring Operation in front of UN Headquarters in New York on October 15, 2019. Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity. Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union — has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.
Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.
Turkey has said the PKK terrorist group and its extension the YPG/PYD constitute the biggest threat to Syria’s future, jeopardizing the country’s territorial integrity and unitary structure.
Ankara has also stressed that supporting terrorists under the pretext of fighting Daesh is unacceptable.
Turkey remands four trying to recruit children for PKK
Four people have been remanded in custody after trying to kidnap two children to recruit them for the PKK terror group, police said on Wednesday.The four suspects were caught on Friday following a technical and physical surveillance, said a police statement, adding that they were remanded into custody after being referred to a local court.Video: Operation Peace Spring in northern SyriaA large number of digital materials and documents related to the terror group were seized at the addresses raided to arrest the suspects.The children were delivered to their families, police said.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.PKK continues to be Europe’s favorite terror groupWest holds onto lies it crafted about YPG
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
Terming the refugee influx into Turkey and subsequently to Europe due to terrorists’ presence in broad swathes of northern Syria, Sehgal said that a successful operation in the region would pave the way for safe and early repatriation of over 1.5 million refugees to their homes.
“It [elimination of terrorists] will ultimately benefit the whole region, including Syria, Turkey and Europe,” he added.
US has to work with Turkey on their terms, says expert
The United States has to work with Turkey on their terms in northern Syria, a senior Hudson Institute fellow said Tuesday.Speaking at a panel, Michael Doran said Washington, by allying with the PKK terror organization, set itself on a collusion course with Ankara, calling it “unwise.””Everyone knows we [the U.S.] are leaving sooner or later. Turkey is gonna be there forever. We have to work through them largely on their terms,” said Doran.Video: Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria”We can have our humanitarian concerns, we can force them aggressively, we can have differences of opinions but it has to be within a Turkish framework rather than some framework we made up as a result of different positions we ended up and as a result of temporary tactical decision we made,” he added.His remarks came as Turkey is in seventh day of its peace operation in northeastern Syria. Following Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring, the U.S. sanctioned Ankara’s two of Ankara’s ministries and three ministers on Monday.Doran said the U.S. played a major role in the deterioration of relations with Ankara, adding that “Getting out of it means we need to reestablish good ties with Ankara.”Turkey remands four trying to recruit children for PKKTurkey’s anti-terror operation rightful: ExpertsTurkey has repeatedly told the U.S. that its support for the PYD-YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, is paving the way for the group to build a terror state in northeastern Syria.”We rebranded the PKK as the SDF, and brought in Arab and Ezidis. But the power center of that organization always was the PKK. We should recognize that we lied to ourselves.”[The] Obama administration packaged this as something other than PKK,” he added.Doran also said the U.S. is ditching a major ally, that sits between Europe and Asia, and where U.S. has basis and intelligence platforms and called Turkey an ally the U.S. work in Bosnia and Afghanistan.”We are gonna ditch that state [Turkey] for a splinter group, extremist terrorist organization. That does not even represent even Kurds. PKK is not Kurds,” he added, referring to the PKK.US has to work with Turkey on their terms, says expertYPG/PKK terror attacks kill six civilians in Syria”We elevated a little splinter extremist organization of a minority and put it on the same level as our ally and began mediating back and forth and representing to Turkey the position of the PKK,” he said.He said the PKK/YPG rejected any power sharing in their area and hate even the Kurdish Regional Government in northern Iraq. “These guys the YPG, they would rather be in bed with [Bashar] al-Assad and the Iranians than with Kurds of Iraq.”Doran accused the terror group of aligning itself with the Russians and Iranians, soon after the Washington’s withdrawal in the region.”We borrowed a Russian and Iranian proxy, and it was strategically stupid,” he added.PKK continues to be Europe’s favorite terror group’Turkey’s Syria operation is clearing away terrorists’Turkey on Oct. 9, launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union — has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.EU not planning economic sanctions on Turkey: BerlinWest holds onto lies it crafted about YPG
Hailing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s assurance that the territorial sovereignty of Syria will be fully respected, Sehgal said he hoped that the Operation Peace Spring would be culminated as soon as possible achieving the desired results.
Retired Brig. Said Nazir Mohammad, an Islamabad-based defense analyst, voiced a similar view.
“Turkey is facing the brunt of refugees as the EU is not accepting them,” Nazir noted adding that Ankara has been facing a threat from PKK, that’s why it wants to create a safe zone along with its border to ensure the safe return of refugees.
YPG/PKK terror attacks kill six civilians in Syria
Six civilians were killed and 15 injured by terrorist YPG/PKK artillery fire and heat seeking missiles in residential areas in northern Syria, once occupied by Daesh terrorists — now cleared by Turkey’s anti-terror Operation Euphrates Shield.Terrorists targeted the Gandura neighborhood of the Jarabulus district, held by Syrian armed opposition.Six civilians were killed in the attack, with 13 injured.Turkey remands four trying to recruit children for PKKTurkey’s anti-terror operation rightful: ExpertsThe YPG/PKK terrorists also attacked Azaz district, firing four artillery shells which wounded two additional civilians.On Monday, the terror organization injured three children in a separate attack on Jarabulus, located in the Operation Euphrates Shield zone.Operation Euphrates Shield and its successors, Operation Olive Branch in 2018 and Operation Peace Spring — launched on Oct. 9 — all aim to eliminate terrorist elements near Turkey’s borders, including Daesh and the YPG/PKK.US has to work with Turkey on their terms, says expertYPG/PKK terror attacks kill six civilians in Syria
The safe zone near Turkey border, he said, was actually created by the UN, but was being challenged by Daesh, Syrian Army, al-Qaeda affiliates and a moderate Kurd opposition.
“Since YPG is a terrorist outfit and being supported by the U.S and Israel, Turkey is worried of the Balkanization of Syria with a Kurd state to be carved out along eastern and southeastern borders,” he said suggesting that Pakistan should operate in a gray area of diplomacy and for a peaceful settlement with an aim to respect the territorial integrity of all states.
“The Turkish operation blatantly exposes U.S. hypocrisy where it was allied with the YPG,” said Arhama Siddiqa, a research fellow covering the Middle East at Islamabad-based Institute of Strategic Studies.
PKK continues to be Europe’s favorite terror group
While the EU continues to oppose Turkey’s anti-terrorism efforts in northern Syria, the bloc’s institutions and member countries continue harboring members of the PKK, despite it being on the EU terror list.Most-wanted PKK terrorists are frequent participants in events of the European Parliament.According to the Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2019 by EU police agency Europol, the PKK has been forcefully collecting funds from Kurdish businesses in Europe, while partaking in drug and human trafficking activities across the continent.US VP, top diplomat to visit Turkey for talksSchools suspended in north Syria amid PKK/YPG shellingIn 2015, Europol recognized the existence of PKK training camps in Belgium, as well as the foothills of the Alps in Switzerland in 2017.PKK-linked associations, foundations and media groups in France were found to easily be able to disseminate the terrorist organization’s propaganda.The report found that many groups with ties to the PKK were also present in Belgium, where it said the terrorists’ so-called Europe leaders resided.According to the German government, hundreds have left the country to join the ranks of either the PKK or YPG, with the total being 204 in 2017.US trained SDF for possible Turkish operation: reportTurkey not worried over sanctions, says ErdoğanPKK terrorists in the U.K. were found to operate as an organized criminal group, committing such crimes as drug and human trafficking.Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration are known to openly support the PKK.The PKK/PYD has an representative office in Greece and the Lavrion refugee camp southeastern Greece continues to be under PKK control.The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Austria are also among the countries where the PKK is able to conduct activities with no serious repercussions.Europe’s tolerance, and at times support, towards the PKK is harshly criticized by Turkey, which accuses Europe of ignoring its security concerns.Suicide car bombing in Afghanistan kills two soldiersAnkara accuses Europe of being insincere in counter-terrorism, due to its criticism of Turkey’s fight against the PKK.Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to secure its borders by eliminating terrorist groups there, to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity.Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.Turkey neutralizes 637 YPG/PKK terrorists in Syria
She added that the Turkish Operation Peace Spring exposed the ”faultiness between President [Donald] Trump and Pentagon where they keep contradicting each other.”
“We saw this in the Qatar-Gulf crisis as well,” she said.
Syed Fakhar Kakakhel, another Islamabad-based political analyst, said: ”It is obvious that Turkey is the one, which is close to the war theater and the most affected by terror attacks.”
“Turkey knows much better than the rest of the world how to deal with Syrian crisis,” Kakakhel told Anadolu Agency adding that Pakistan itself has faced the brunt of Afghan war for decades.
In that perspective, he said, Ankara had every right to move for its own and the region’s security and stability.
‘Turkey’s Syria operation is clearing away terrorists’
Turkey’s anti-terror operation in northern Syria continues to accomplish its goal of clearing the region of terrorists, said a senior Turkish official on Tuesday.”Operation Peace Spring continues in line with its purpose. I think the operation will be completed in a short time in accordance with its objectives,” said Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, after meeting with Russian Federation Council Chair Valentina Matviyenko.”Turkey defends Syria’s territorial integrity and is making efforts for it,” he added.Schools suspended in north Syria amid PKK/YPG shellingUS trained SDF for possible Turkish operation: reportAsked by Russian journalists if U.S. sanctions would deter the operation, Sentop said they would not.”This operation has a purpose and will continue in line with this aim. We have been taking our actions and considering these possibilities. Sanctions will [only] strengthen our country,” said Sentop.Matviyenko, for her part, said that Russia supports Turkey’s fight against terrorism.”Nobody can say that Turkey is not fighting terrorism,” she said.“Those who come from thousands of kilometers away cannot know the dynamics of the region,” she added.She also criticized a French proposal at the current 141st Assembly of Inter-parliamentary Union in Belgrade to demand an end to the operation.Sentop is also attending the assembly.Suicide car bombing in Afghanistan kills two soldiersTurkey neutralizes 637 YPG/PKK terrorists in Syria
EU not planning economic sanctions on Turkey: Berlin
The EU is not planning any economic sanctions on Turkey at the moment, a senior German diplomat said on Tuesday.Briefing reporters ahead of an EU leaders summit this week, the senior diplomat said the leaders would discuss Turkey’s ongoing anti-terrorist operation in Syria, together with other major EU and international topics, during their two-day summit beginning on Thursday.“The EU has made no plans so far to impose economic sanctions on Turkey,” he said, but stressed that the member states oppose Turkey’s military action and are closely watching developments.’Turkey’s Syria operation is clearing away terrorists’EU not planning economic sanctions on Turkey: BerlinEU foreign ministers on Monday spoke of limiting arms exports to Turkey, expressing worries over a humanitarian crisis and instability in the region. But no EU-wide arms embargo emerged from the meeting.Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.West holds onto lies it crafted about YPGUS VP, top diplomat to visit Turkey for talksEarlier, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of American forces from northeastern Syria, which was widely interpreted in the media as a “green light” for Turkey’s anti-terror operation.Trump later criticized Turkey’s military action and announced sanctions to pressure Ankara to cease the operation. His Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Washington will hold talks with European partners to press them to take similar diplomatic and economic measures.Turkish leaders have repeatedly underlined that the Turkey’s anti-terror operation in northern Syria does not target Kurds, but aims to clear the region of the terrorist group PKK/YPG and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.Schools suspended in north Syria amid PKK/YPG shellingUS trained SDF for possible Turkish operation: report