Turkish intelligence chief visits Baghdad for key security talks

On July 8, İbrahim Kalin, Director of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), travelled to Baghdad, Iraq’s capital, to conduct bilateral negotiations on security issues.

Tmain agenda item during talks with the Baghdad administration was the “Türkiye Without Terrorism” initiative, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

During his meeting with the Iraqi government, MIT Director Kalin discussed cooperation aimed at ensuring regional peace and stability. The talks also covered the strong relations between the two countries and the Iraqi government.

Additionally, İbrahim Kalin met with Seman Agaoglu, the president of the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF), along with other ITF officials. He was briefed on the overall security situation in Iraq’s Turkmen regions and the progress of election preparations.

Last week, Turkish media announced that the PKK fighters in northern Iraq would begin handing over weapons, with a symbolic ceremony planned for July 11. Türkiye is pushing for a concrete legal framework to oversee this process. 

Previous reports said the first group of 50 PKK members is expected to surrender their weapons in the northern Iraqi city of Duhok under the supervision of Turkish, Iraqi and KRG officials.

By Khagan Isayev