Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Mohammed al-Abbasi said there is no agreement with Turkey against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Abbasi told the Saudi television network al-Hadath that there is no agreement with Turkey to conduct a joint operation against the PKK.
Ankara considers the PKK a terrorist organization and carries out air strikes against the group’s positions in the Kurdistan Region.
The defense minister said if the Turkish side feels the influence of Iraqi forces at the border it will not keep its forces within Iraqi territory.
Abbasi stated the Iraqi constitution does not allow security institutions to interfere in political affairs and the prime minister is currently paying full attention to strengthening the infrastructure of the Iraqi army.
The defense minister’s comments come after the Turkish foreign and defense ministers along with the intelligence chief visited Baghdad earlier this month to discuss several issues of common interest, including water resources, border security, and the PKK.
