Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 13
By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend:
Current situation in Turkey is a problem of Ankara's own making, Theodore Karasik, the Middle East analyst and senior advisor to Risk Insurance Management in Dubai, told Trend Oct. 13.
"Erdogan's government played a double game with Islamic State while trying to keep the Kurdish groups separate," he said.
The expert said the double suicide attacks committed October 10 in Ankara is the result of Ankara's policy.
A terrorist attack committed October 10 in Ankara killed 97 and injured over 240. According to preliminary information, the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS) stands behind the attack.
Karasik further added that Turkey is now retaliating against PKK positions from the air and on the ground.
"However, Russia is highly unlikely to get involved in this Turkish matter because the Kremlin has other, more important plans in Syria and the rest of the Levant. NATO is making noises about becoming involved in protecting Turkey, as a NATO member, from Russia but these comments seem to be idle threats given tensions over Eastern Europe," he said.
Karasik said that NATO's constant statement's on protecting Turkey, as a NATO member, from Russia is nothing but an idle threat. He further explained that NATO is already overstretched because of situation in Ukraine and Baltic security requirements.
"What is important to pay attention to, perhaps, is assistance to PKK and other Kurdish groups through Armenia which is historically known. PKK attacks in Anatolia may be part of a larger, older game that has been played by certain actors in the past to embarrass and hurt Turkey," he said.