ANKARA: The Turkish parliament on Saturday approved a one-year extension of a mandate to use troops abroad in Syria and Iraq, two days before Iraq’s Kurdish region is due to hold a controversial independence referendum.

The bill was overwhelmingly passed. Def—Reutersence Minister Nurettin Canikli said the extension was intended to protect Turkey from “threats”, adding that the Kurdish Regional Government’s planned vote on Monday was a “threat to national security”. The mandate had been due to run out on Oct 30.

Ankara has repeatedly warned Arbil of the “heavy cost” of the poll, while Iraq, Iran and the United States have urged the KRG against the non-binding Sept 25 vote.

Canikli said the vote demonstrated “an abdication of reason” and Turkey viewed any referendum like this as “null and void”. He added: “We are taking the necessary measures and will continue to do so.” Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim warned Ankara’s actions in response to the vote would have “diplomatic, political, economic and security dimensions”.

When asked whether a cross-border operation was among the options, Yildirim said “naturally” but “it is a question of timing as to when the security, economic and political options will be applied.” The mandate, first approved by parliament in Oct 2014, has been renewed every year since then.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2017