Turkish Defense Minister claims ISIS attacks ended peace process between state, PKK
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has made a surprising statement on how the peace process between the PKK and the state ended, saying that ISIS attacks led to the collapse of it. "They killed hundreds of people. So they received an answer and the terror targets were hit," Akar said, holding the PKK responsible for attacks carried out by the jihadists.
Duvar English
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said that ISIS attacks in Turkey caused the collapse of the peace process between the state and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
In surprising remarks made during budget talks on Nov. 13, Akar said that the anti-terror operations against the PKK came after ISIS attacks in the Suruç district of the southeastern province of Urfa, the capital Ankara, the southeastern province of Antep and Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
"The peace process was very important in our history. The state showed all of its compassion and patience and said, 'Let's end this terror and talk,'" Akar said, going on to list the deadliest ISIS attacks as an excuse to end the peace process.
"They killed hundreds of people. So they received an answer and the terror targets were hit," Akar said.
Contrary to Akar's claims, the collapse of the peace process between the state and the PKK is unrelated to ISIS' said attacks.