Ankara urges stronger NATO cooperation against the terrorist PKK

Preparing to expand its intelligence network against the terrorist PKK in the face of rising attacks, Turkey is asking fellow NATO members to give stronger support to its efforts against the terrorist group. As it takes an active role in many NATO operations and peacekeeping missions, Turkey expects its NATO allies to share their intelligence on PKK activities with Turkey, as well as to extradite PKK criminals in their territory to Turkey and deal a heavy blow to the terrorist group's drug trafficking activities. In a recent security summit chaired by President Abdullah Gul, participants decided that Turkey would no longer rely on US intelligence on the terrorist group alone but also would seek NATO's intelligence support. In a series of attacks over the last two months, the terrorist PKK has claimed the lives of dozens of Turkish soldiers.