Turkey, Iran to share real-time intelligence on terrorist PKK

Turkey and Iran have decided to cooperate in fighting against terrorists in Iran and northern Iraq, including providing real-time intelligence. The decision was solidified last weekend after a team of Turkish officials, led by Interior Ministry Undersecretary Osman Gunes, visited Tehran and discussed how taking tangible and mutual steps to fight terrorists. Now both countries plan to provide real-time intelligence as it concerns the activities and goals of terrorists along the Iran-Iraq border. The anti-Iranian Kurdish terrorist group PJAK, whose guerrillas continue to fight government forces in Iran's Kurdish-populated areas, is also believed to be providing financial assistance to the terrorist PKK. Several officials from the Police Department, General Staff, National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Gendarmerie Command and Foreign Ministry were among the officials visiting Tehran. Turkish and Iranian officials reportedly focused on the PKK and PJAK's armed forces. They discussed the groups and their logistical resources and how to effectively mitigate them through cooperation. According to intelligence reports, there are an estimated 600 PJAK and nearly 4,000 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq.