ANKARA, Sept 28: Turkey and Iraq on Friday signed an agreement to crack down on Turkish Kurd rebels based in northern Iraq, but Turkey failed to secure a right for cross-border military operations.

The two countries pledged to “prevent the activities of terrorist organisations and primarily the PKK,” Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay said after he and Iraqi counterpart, Jawad Al-Bolani, signed the accord at the end of three days of thorny negotiations.

Turkey says the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) enjoys free movement in northern Iraq, where it has long taken refuge, and obtains weapons and explosives there for attacks across the border. The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and much of the international community,

Atalay said, however, the two sides failed to agree on a proposed provision concerning “the strengthening of security and cooperation in border areas” and that negotiations would continue.

A draft provision sought by Ankara would have reportedly allowed Turkey — with Iraqi authorisation — to conduct “hot pursuit”, or small-scale military operations across the border to hunt PKK militants.

But the Iraqi Kurds, who run northern Iraq and have been accused by Ankara of tolerating and even aiding the PKK, raised objections to the provision, according to media reports.—AFP