'Even one hour of PKK/PYD-US cooperation is worrisome'

By Meltem Bulur and Adham Kako

ANKARA

Even the smallest amount of cooperation between the U.S. and the terrorist PKK/PYD in Syria is worrisome, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

The sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, commented on the recent tension over the U.S. providing weapons to the PKK/PYD, the terrorist PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

"For us, even one hour of cooperation is causing great concern, and this uncertainty is worsening our apprehensions," one source said, referring to recent U.S. statement saying that U.S. will continue to support the PKK/PYD for a limited time.

The sources said that although bilateral relations between U.S. and Turkey are continuing at every level, the U.S. has problems reflecting its political decisions on the ground.

If the threat from Afrin, Syria continues, Turkey's reactions will also continue, the sources said.

The sources added that areas in Syria where the PKK/PYD is present are not covered by de-escalation zones.

Although the U.S. is sharing information with Turkey over the weapons it has given to the PKK/PYD, this falls short of what Turkey wants, the sources said.

The sources added that the main issue is not transparency, but the threat of those weapons being used against Turkey.

Furthermore, the sources said one of the most important dimensions of the peace process in Syria is the return of Syrians expatriates to their home.

"Bringing the demographic changes inside back to its previous state is a very important extension of this," one source stressed.

The PKK/PYD and its military wing PKK/YPG are Syrian branches of the PKK terrorist network, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years.

Since the PKK launched its terror campaign in Turkey in 1984, tens of thousands of people have been killed.

The U.S. and the coalition have largely ignored the links of the PYD/YPG group with the PKK, which the U.S. and the EU also list as a terrorist group.

Turkey has repeatedly objected to U.S. support for the terrorist PKK/PYD as a “reliable ally” in Syria, which has included supplying arms and equipment.