WHILE President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lamented that his country was the “top target for all terrorist groups in the region”, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu wasted no time in blaming the militant Islamic State group for Tuesday’s carnage in the heart of Istanbul.

The suicide bombing at the tourist hub should be seen against the background of Turkey’s stepped-up role in the anti-IS coalition and the military reverses Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s hordes have of late been suffering.

Ankara has allowed American warplanes to use its Incirlik base, while the Turkish air force, too, has been bombing IS targets in Syria.

Moreover, the overall military situation doesn’t seem to be going in the militant group’s favour. Last month, it lost Ramadi to Iraqi forces, while there are reports that some IS commanders are deserting.

Observers believe that the city of Manjib could be retaken next by Syrian forces. No wonder, IS should have thought it fit to strike what is Europe’s biggest city (in terms of population) and convey a deadly message — that it can strike wherever and whenever it wants. The carnage in Paris is still fresh in everybody’s mind.

Until late last year, Turkey had not really shown much zeal in taking on IS, even when the militants had come as close to its border as Kobane.

Instead, the Erdogan government seemed focused on ending the Bashar al-Assad regime. Its other concerns were the Kurdish militia in Syria and the PKK, with which the ceasefire has all but collapsed. While Ankara must seek a peaceful settlement of the Kurdish issue, the Erdogan government has no choice but to throw its full weight behind the US-led coalition to wipe out IS and give peace and dignity to the people in what is the heart of the Middle East.

Situated strategically, Turkey cannot anymore ignore IS terror attacks on its soil or sit on the sidelines while the militants remain in possession of large chunks of territory and use it as a base for international terrorism.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2016