Ans : Related to : GS Paper-2
Introduction-
Turkey is facing a multi-dimensional security crisis. Its forces are deployed on two battlefronts — in the southeast, where most of the country’s 15 million Kurds live, to fight the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK); and in Syria to face off threats from the Islamic State (IS) as well as Kurdish rebels.On the eve of New Year, Turkey has witnessed another terror attack in Istanbul that killed at least 39 people, mostly foreigners including two Indians. Few days ago the Russian Ambassador was killed in Turkey by terror sympathiser. These incidents reflect the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Turkey.
Issue-
The unrelenting terror attacks over the past few years show that something is wrong with law enforcement and security arrangements in Turkey, a country otherwise known for functional institutions and a tough security regime, or a deep state.
Causes-
- The current Turkey president initially offered help to the anti-regime rebels in Syria and allowed Jihadist rebels to use its land for its terror activity in Syria. This was a monumental mistake, as jihadist entered the nation and started terror activities in Turkey also.
- Similarly his decision to re-launch the war with Kurdish rebels was also linked to his policy debacle in Syria. Hence Kurdish rebels also launched various attacks on Turkey.
Analysis-
- Current Turkey is facing severe thereat from both Islamic state and Kurdish rebels.
- Ongoing terror attacks have also badly hit the tourism economy, which makes a sizeable contribution to Turkey’s GDP.
- President’s authoritarian tendencies and the crackdown on dissent and opposition parties are deeply polarising the country.
- It is this fragility, the countries security architecture in is frequently being exposed by the attackers.
Conclusion-
Terror attacks in Turkey have repeatedly exposed Turkey’s security architecture. The most of the problems were due to various disastrous actions by its government and it will affect in long term also. Hence at least now government should initiate corrective measures.