Turkey to give army greater cross-border authorization

KABUL, Afghanistan B

Turkey is to extend the military’s authorization to launch operations into Iraq and Syria, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said.

Speaking on a visit to attend the presidential inauguration of Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on Monday, Arnic said: "Turkey will add all the necessary elements to feel secure.

“Therefore, the content of this mandate will be stronger and different than the previous ones. We will request a parliamentary motion that would include all [necessary] conditions in it."

Turkish troops are currently authorized to operate across the Iraq border to defend Turkey from outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, and in Syria to engage the regime forces of President Bashar al-Assad.

These mandates expire on October 4 and 17 respectively.

With the growing threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, the government is expected to include the terror group among potential enemies.

The new authorization could also allow Turkey to establish safe zones across the Syrian border for displaced people fleeing ISIL.

Since ISIL launched attacks around the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani more than 160,000 refugees have crossed the Turkish border.

Arinc said: "Turkey has to take different measures that would prevent such massive inflows, such as a buffer zone or a safe zone. I am sure that free nations would understand this.

"The safe zone is primarily to stop Syrians crossing the Turkish border during the fight with ISIL and Assad and to make them gather in a safe area on their own territory and, in the future, maybe the present refugees will return to their countries."

The Grand National Assembly is scheduled to hold a session on Thursday to extend the mandates.

While in Kabul, Arinc met Ghani and Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum.

www.aa.com.tr/en