Britain seeks to help Turkey to prevent foreigners crossing into Syria to join militant groups, said the chairman of U.K.'s Home Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday.
The British students -- Shamima Begum, 15, Amira Abase, 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16 -- left Bethnal Green Academy in east London in February for Turkey, reportedly to cross into Syria to join extremists, possibly Daesh -- the Arabic-language acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as ISIL.
Surveillance video acquired by Istanbul police showed the trio at a major bus station in the city on Feb. 17. A British police team arrived in Turkey on Feb. 23 to assist investigations into the missing girls.
Committee chairman Keith Vaz gave an exclusive interview to The Anadolu Agency on Tuesday about improving cooperation with Turkey.
"I do not think it is the job of the Turkish police and Turkish authorities to chase our citizens and this all has to be done with cooperation."
Vaz added British police officers should be out there doing this and that Britain should be doing more to help.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said last week that Turkey was alerted by the U.K. three days after the three girls left Britain.
"It is clear that Turkey is now a destination of concern. It has been used as a gateway by British citizens to get to Syria, not just by British citizens, but those from other countries as well," said Vaz.
Saying over 600 British citizens have travelled to Syria, some of gone through Turkey, Vaz added, "I think the international community should give more help to Turkey. Not just in terms of counter terrorism, but also illegal migration."
Vaz said the Home Affairs Select Committee has a long-standing interest in counter-terrorism issues.
According to the Guardian newspaper, the House of Commons will summon Turkish Ambassador in London Abdurrahman Bilgic and Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil for a session on March 10 "to give evidence about the problem of youngsters using Turkey as a route to Syria's battlefields."
"I have spoken to Ambassador Abdurrahman Bilgic. I think he was in Ankara when I spoke to him. I explain the reasons why we feel its useful to have him, as well as CEO of Turkish Airlines," said Vaz.
British Prime Minister David Cameron previously said, "What this incident has highlighted is the worrying situation where unaccompanied teenagers like these -- who are not a known risk -- can board a flight to Turkey without necessarily being asked questions by the airline."
"The procedures of Turkish Airlines are consistent with the international and national aviation authorities and British aviation security laws," Turkish Airlines said in a statement issued last Friday in response to remarks by the British premier.
"This is not to criticize, it is to see what more we can do to help. We thought it will be helpful for the committee and parliament if we hear from the Turkish government and CEO of Turkish Airlines," said Vaz.
Vaz added: "What we are trying to do is to establish the facts and to see what more can be done in order to strengthen that bond of cooperation that clearly exists."
"It is not good expecting Turkish Airlines for example, to become immigration officers, that is not their job," said Vaz.
Saying the pressure on Turkey is huge, Vaz said: "If Turkey were inside the EU, I think we would be able to do much more with Turkey to help combat this problem."
"Because Turkey is not in the EU, a lot of information we would like to give Turkey cannot be given. This stops Turkey being able to do everything it can to help," he added.
Turkish defense minister has said that Ankara, since January, deported 1,112 foreign fighters who were trying to Daesh.
The British government estimates that up to 600 people have left Britain to go to Syria and Iraq.
More than 200 people were arrested last year on terrorism charges, according to British police.
