On Saturday, Iraqi state television announced that security forces had captured the number two of the PKK in an operation against a group of Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK) militants carrying out sabotage attacks in early August. TRT Türk covered the news story through its correspondent Hakan Celik in Tehran. Celik, however, said the report has not been officially or unofficially confirmed. Likewise, Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin noted that the authenticity of the report should be sought from the reporters. The government has acted pretty calmly and cautiously on this matter.
By the end of Saturday, the view that Karayılan was not captured had gained in strength. However, by Sunday noon, Iranian state television once more announced the capture of Karayılan. Fars, one of the official Iranian news agencies, argued that the Iranian chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, had confirmed the reports suggesting that the number two of the PKK had been captured. In response to an inquiry referring to the news that the number two of the PKK was captured, Boroujerdi said: “This information is correct. Iranian intelligence units have captured the number two of this terror organization. Our intelligence forces have done something great by capturing the number two of the PKK.”
Mehr, another official news agency in Iran, had a headline saying “News that number two of the PKK has been captured confirmed.” The agency further said: “Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of the Islamic Consultative Assembly Head Alaadddin Burujerdi confirmed that the number two of the terrorist organization PKK has been captured. In a statement at a press conference, Boroujerdi gave details on the activities of the PJAK terror organization in the western part of the country, adding that these activities were a response to the capture of the number two of the PKK. Boroujerdi further stressed that the Revolutionary Guard will continue performing such successful operations in the near future as well.”
Subsequently, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Turkey's envoy to Tehran have taken the stage. Davutoğlu met with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who told him that they did not have any information confirming the capture of Karayılan. Likewise, Turkey's envoy to Tehran talked to Boroujerdi, who told them, “I did not say Karayılan had been captured; I said it would be better had he been captured.”
Interesting, isn't it?
Be sure that this is not theater play or a diplomatic scandal. A strong state like Iran would not display such an immature attitude towards such a delicate issue. Let us assume that the first day was some sort of misunderstanding and that the PKK's number two figure, Karayılan, was confused with the PJAK's number two, Murat Karasac. But there is no explanation for the announcement of similar reports on the second day as well.
Iran is sending an evil message to Turkey; a message saying it is willing to take action against the PKK in return for concessions by Turkey regarding the Syrian issue. The message that this false report seeks to send can be read as follows:
To Turkey, you have a dominant role in the uprisings in Syria, which is an indispensible ally to us in the region. If you try to put pressure on Syria or start an operation against the Syrian regime, we will be strongly involved in the game with the PKK.
In regards to the PKK issue, we are capable of capturing its leader and eliminating its activities; but we are also capable of making it grow. We have all the control in the Kandil Mountains. If you give up on Syria, we will deal with the PKK together; otherwise, we will become allies with the PKK.
To the PKK, we have in mind to capture Murat Karayılan. We will make Cemil Bayik, known for his hawkish stance, your leader, make you go to war with Turkey, and we will extend support to our neighbor. For this reason, we will be involved in your game with Turkey. If you stay close to us, you will win out of it. You should note that rapprochement between Turkey and Syria did not go well and that Turkey is now against Syria. In this way, you can make an alliance with Bashal al-Assad again. Stand with us against Turkey's policy vis-à-vis Syria.
This is backstage of the game staged last weekend. Iran is a big country. It has played its PKK card in an effort to protect its vital ally, Assad, in the Middle East. This is for sure.
The government is facing a tough situation now. It has to deal with both the massacre being committed by a dictator against his own people and the PKK problem. Hopefully, Turkey will take care of these difficult issues through good diplomacy.
