Posted on 10/20/2001 11:48:11 PM PDT by Shermy
Turkish troops in Kabul to serve Pak interests
By Nusrat Javeed
ISLAMABAD: Reliable sources from amongst the Islamabad-based diplomats, revealed to The News Saturday that the Turkish president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, is coming to Pakistan next week; "primarily, to convince General Pervez Musharraf that Turkey's willingness to provide troops for the protection of Kabul, once Mulla Omar and his hawkish Taliban are no more, will also serve the long term economic and strategic interests of Islamabad."
The mainstream Turkish press has already been told, officially, that during his Pakistan-visit, President Sezer "will reassure General Musharraf that despite the lack of consensus between the two countries on certain issues, Turkey will do its best to prevent any harm being caused to Pakistan."
The future of Afghanistan, cooperation against terrorism, the Kashmir problem and regional conflicts are also reported to have been put on the agenda for talks between the two heads of the brotherly states.
Briefing the Turkish press, officials in Ankara also conceded: "A visit paid by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to India (some months ago) has been a factor that created unease among Pakistani officials."
Daily News, a leading English daily, rather editorially noted the negative impact Ecevit created with his India-only visit. "The fact that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit visited India and did not even bother to make a stop over in Pakistan clearly offended our friends in Islamabad," it declared.
And the omission appeared odd to the same daily; for, "Pakistan has always provided unreserved support for Turkey in its causes. It has at times been very outspoken on Cyprus. It is very fresh in our minds how Pakistan sent loads of cluster bombs to Turkey at very short notice and without any cash payment to be used against PKK terrorists when many countries in the West refused to supply such arms to us." Heavy hints are also dropped by the same newspaper to convey the impression as if Ankara was keenly awaiting for an opportunity to do the damage control.
And the "new political environment" since the suicide-hijack attacks on New York and Washington provided an opening. After consulting his political and military aides, the Turkish president decided to call on the Pak president on September 24. He is quoted to have told Musharraf during that call: "We feel that Turkey has neglected Pakistan for too long and that has been counterproductive."
......edit for brevity.....
Sezer's decision to visit Pakistan is considered very important by Turkish media. For the fact that the Turkish head of the state is not very fond of traveling to other countries. Turkey needs to engage Pakistan; for, the US-led coalition, fighting the "war on terrorism" in Afghanistan these days, is fast realizing that perpetual bombing of an already devastated country has reached a counterproductive stage.
It was time to launch the ground troops and show it to the world that Taliban were in control no more, at least in some major cities of Afghanistan. Only after a week of bombing Kabul, the coalition could create conditions for the Northern Alliance to walk in Kabul as 'victors.'
But the USA was vehement in denying such a walk over to Northern Alliance, the rag tag coalition of mostly non-Pashtun warlords, many of whom are known drug merchants or reckless soldiers of fortune. Each of their top guns are also associated with the wanton devastation of the Afghan capital during the deadly battles for territory, the "Mujahideen leaders" of yesteryears kept fighting incessantly after the fall of the communist government throughout 1990s.
The US forces are shy to move in. Also, because of some credible reports. Claiming, that after abandoning their positions on 'war fronts,' many diehard loyalists of Mulla Omar and Osama bin Laden had acquired houses in downtown Kabul, with the intent of engaging the "invading troops" in hand to hand combats. Scores of civilians are certain to get caught in crossfire during such combats, for which the whole blame will come on the US troops only.
Some conspiracy theorists also believe that the USA does not want the Northern Alliance to walk into Kabul for another but never-stated reason: "It knows that most of their (NA forces) tanks and mobile armed pieces are still driven or manned by the Russian soldiers or the technical crew." Besides creating the long term frictions between Washington and Moscow, "the return of the Russian soldiers in Kabul" can, therefore, unleash a "patriotic backlash," which the Taliban would love to exploit to their advantage.
Sympathetically considering Pakistan's reservations vis-e-vis militarily furnishing a 'walk over' for the forces of Northern Alliance, Washington preferred to wait for the emergence of a "moderate faction" from amongst the Taliban before installing a "transitory government" in Kabul, which should be protected by an "international peacekeeping force sent under the UN flag."
But anxiously awaited "moderate Taliban" are not coming forward and time is fast running short. The US and its allies do not want to wage a war in Afghanistan in the holy month of Ramazan, which is to commence in another three weeks. Also important is the approaching winter and the snows it will bring to most of Afghanistan, incapacitating the grand military maneuvers.
A viable 'exit strategy' is desperately needed. And Turkey has suggested one. Talking to the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, who visited Turkey early this week, the Turks very strongly suggested that it was time that "liberated areas" must be established in Afghanistan, after moving in the ground forces.
That was also necessary to "show it to the world, that the Western military campaign was bringing results." Without telling as to comprising forces from which country, Ecevit, the Turkish prime minister, also began demanding in public that "the international peacekeepers and aid supplies" should move into the "liberated areas" and act as an "example for the rest of Afghanistan."
He didn't mince words to convey it to the US and its allies that if no other country was yet willing to land its forces in Afghanistan, Turkey wouldn't hesitate to at least get Kabul for them and erect the security cordon around it. The Turks strongly believe that the Taliban military presence in Kabul had effectively collapsed on Oct 15. Their commanders and forces fled the city.
The groups of Taliban soldiers, lingering in the Afghan capital, are now alienating and annoying the terrified residents with looting or by strewing mines around the main streets. The hapless residents will feel "genuinely liberated," if "friendly forces" move in "now."
Entering with "carefully selected and disciplined contingents from the Northern Alliance," the Turk forces are certain of getting a "warm welcome," the strategy planners of Ankara feel. But how Pakistan will take the Turkish army's taking over the capital of Afghanistan, a neighbour which was to provide the "strategic depths," remains the question Ankara would want to have categorical answers to before moving in.He may get the positive reactions, if the intended Turkish move could be linked to attaining the long term strategic and economic interests, Islamabad and Ankara can jointly pursue in Central Asia.
Please note, Turkey has stong ethnic affinities with the Northern Alliance and other central Asian ethnicities.
So what does Turkey gain from this would seem to be a pertinent question!
And would they allow us to pursue Bin laden or do it themselves!
If so this could be a very good solution!
I tried to find an English language newspaper via Yahoo's categories Link but can't find one.
Not quite true. Ataturk was an atheist who detested Islam and loathed Mohammed.
The Turks are great fighters. They were part of the UN Korea forces. Their official kill reports had been disbelieved at first so the Turkish troops began to cut off the ears of dead enemies and string the ears along the sides of their vehicles. The scoffs ceased.
Yes I'm sure Turkey will play a grand part in the Afghan theater of operations.
Ditto!!!
Note the reference to "interests" in Central Asia. Turkey has a tradition of Pan-Turkism and identification with Uzekistan, Turkmenistan, northern Afghans, etc. Plus, they want in on the oil. We, especially Cheney by coincidence, have been working to open up the central asia oil fields--mostly a problem due to pipleline building. I'm a hydrogen man myself, but I'm going to be real glad when we open up this oil reserves and decrease Arab control. It's already in the works--note our deal with Putin to develop and import oil from Russia. I'm sure the Turks want in on the construction, drilling, etc. contracts. And they are perfectly situated, by language and culture, to participate.
Apparently, the writer is convinced that this will be a short war. I'm not sure our military planners would agree, nor would they be desperately looking for an "exit strategy" by winter!
Just found this:
They miss us. Honest. They were on the front lines with us during the Cold War and our bases there were humming. They want some stability back. Cities such as Istanbul have been flooded with peasants from Anatolia who vote fundamentalist. The lira has collapse despite a boom in business with the former Soviet Block.
It would seem to be one of the quickest answers, but it may cause more trouble than help. Whatever the case, this will certainly be dealt with rather quickly I would think - one way or another.
(I can find out more from Turks 'on the street' there - maybe. If I do, I'll certainly share comments.)
My favorite city on the planet. Wonderful people. Every car dealer in America should send their sales force to Istanbul to learn from the carpet men. Those guys know how to make the customer enjoy a hard sale pitch. I was buying wholesale in the Grand Bazaar and insisted on cutting through all the offers of apple tea, coffee and chit-chat. When we were done, the seller said..."Ok...we're finished. I will not show you one more thing. But you must have some apple tea with me. It is our custom and our culture." So we sat and BS for two more hours. Most of that time was spent looking at old pictures of him, his store at a USAF base which had closed and US servicemen. He was teary eyed recalling all the friends who had left.
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