Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused the United States and some Western countries of supporting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) under the pretext of fighting ISIS.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fidan made these statements during a joint press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Ankara. He asserted that the United States and certain European nations are acting as “guards” for the PKK, marketing the group under the guise of combating ISIS, a notion he deemed unrealistic.

Fidan directly addressed Western countries, warning against exploiting ISIS as a pretext to bolster PKK’s presence and further other political agendas at the expense of Kurdish communities. He emphasized Turkey’s vigilance in monitoring these developments and its capability to uncover and thwart any such plans. Fidan declared that Turkey would not tolerate any Western agendas supporting the PKK under the guise of fighting ISIS.

He further stated that the PKK’s “empire of violence” is nearing collapse, having manipulated the noble sentiments of Kurdish people. However, he noted that achieving victory within Turkey is insufficient as terrorist organizations like ISIS continue to pose threats near the country’s borders, endangering Muslim societies.

Fidan criticized ISIS for exploiting religion to justify limitless violence, terrorism, and societal chaos. He assured that Turkey remains committed to combating these organizations, viewing them as a common problem affecting Muslim communities.