The Huffington Post quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on the political implications of Turkish conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in light of the coming elections:

The fragile and long-hoped-for peace process between the state and the PKK looks dead in the water as Turkey bombs the group in northern Iraq, where it is now based — alongside a bold new campaign to clamp down on the so-called Islamic State. But while Turkey says it’s reeling in terrorists both on the battlefield and in political positions, many critics insist it’s all a ploy to give the ruling AK Party the upper hand in possible early elections.

“[The AK Party] is sending a very powerful message,” said Aaron Stein, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. “This is already being viewed as nakedly political and in preparations for elections.”

Read the full article here.

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