Turkey balks at providing Afghan combat troops

“We have not changed nor reduced the number of caveats we had drawn up for our troop's mission in Afghanistan,” said Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül when asked by Today's Zaman how he responds to Wednesday's remarks by James Jeffrey, the US ambassador in Ankara, that the US wants more Turkish troops in Afghanistan. The remarks came shortly after US President Barack Obama's announcement to boost US forces by 30,000. “Turkish troops in Afghanistan will continue not to engage in clashes in Afghanistan,” he stressed, adding that the rules of engagement regarding involvement in conflicts and military operations still stand.

The top defense official also acknowledged that the level of Turkish troops in Afghanistan has increased from 750 to around 1,800 in response to the task of taking over from France for a year the leadership of the Kabul Regional Command for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Oct. 31. He clarified that all Turkish forces in Afghanistan are combat troops in the sense that they are ready to fight but emphasized they are under strict orders not to get involved in fighting or clashes. Turkish forces have not suffered any casualties in Afghanistan so far and have established cordial relations with the local population.

Ambassador Jeffrey indicated that, on the other hand, the US expects Turkey to be “more flexible” on the definition of tasks to be carried out by their mission in Afghanistan. “We want fewer caveats from everybody, we want more flexibility in carrying out the mission,” Jeffrey said. Turkey, just like any other NATO member country which contributes troops, has been implementing its own caveats that restrict where their troops can be deployed and their range of tasks. The Turkish defense minister signaled, however, that changing those caveats is out of the question for now.

The issue is likely to be on the agenda of a White House meeting between Obama and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Dec. 7. Sources said Erdoğan will tell Obama that troop numbers could be increased but that Turkish soldiers will not engage in combat missions. Diplomatic sources also revealed that Ankara is disturbed by Jeffrey’s announcement, made at a press conference without prior consultation with Turkish authorities.

While refusing to change the rules of engagement in combat operations and sticking to the policy of staying clear of conflict, Turkey has expressed that it is willing to do more in training, humanitarian aid and assistance with development for the Afghan people. The written statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry in response to Obama’s announcement said all international community members have acknowledged today that the problems in Afghanistan will not be resolved by mere military tactics. It noted that Turkey has been advocating this policy all along and placed special emphasis on the subject while also hailing Obama’s speech as very positive.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also announced that the successful example of the Vardak Provincial Reconstruction Team will be expanded to cover other provinces in the country. Since 2001, Turkey has been providing development assistance through the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) in Afghanistan in areas ranging from education to health and from developing human resources to enhancing the government’s institutional capabilities.

Military is opposed to further involvement

Today’s Zaman also learned that the chief of General Staff submitted a written report to the Prime Ministry painting a bleak picture in Afghanistan. Noting that the situation in the country is worse than in 2001, the report strongly advised against the involvement of Turkish forces in combat operations, saying the local population is increasingly turning against NATO troops and viewing them as an “enemy” rather than a “savior” from the Taliban.

A Turkish military report warned that civilian casualties from NATO operations accounted for 20 percent of the total civilian death toll in the country, suggesting this would hamper NATO operations in the future.

While stressing the Turkish troops’ involvement in development projects valued at more than half a billion dollars so far, the report in contrast says more than 100 times this amount has been spent in combating the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists. It underlined that the local Afghan population’s appreciation of Turkish troops should be analyzed carefully by NATO management.

The military report points out that curtailing heroin trafficking in the country has resulted in the creation of 800,000 unemployed people, and it criticized the lack of social projects aimed at providing employment opportunities.

Parliament approval needed for combat troops

Kürşat Atılgan, a deputy from the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a former general, told Today’s Zaman that any combat operation needs the Turkish Parliament’s approval, which he said is quite unlikely. “Involvement in combat operations goes against the national interests of Turkey, and there is pretty much agreement with the government and the military on this issue,” he said, adding that any political decision would otherwise invite the wrath of Parliament just like it did in 2003 when Parliament refused to allow US troops to pass through Turkish territory to open a northern front against Iraq.

Atılgan warns that if Erdoğan bows to pressure from the White House to send combat troops to Afghanistan when he visits the US, it would mean that the government would most likely be rebuffed by Parliament even though his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) enjoys a majority. “We will see many AK Party deputies breaking ranks with their own party,” Atılgan said. Talking to Today’s Zaman on condition of anonymity, one government official has said Turkey may be willing to go as far as allowing its troops to secure towns and villages only after other NATO combat troops have cleared these places of Taliban or al-Qaeda elements. “Depending on how negotiations go in the Washington meeting, Turkish troops may be involved in patrolling places cleared of terrorists,” the same source said.