PKK, Daesh terror to be discussed in detail in Iraq: Turkish PM

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Daesh terrorism will be discussed in detail with Iraqi officials during his official visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday.

"We will discuss the terms of bilateral respect between Turkey and Iraq on both of the countries' territorial integrity. And we will figure out solutions to halt PKK and Daesh terrorist attacks," Yıldırım said on Friday.

PM Yıldırım also recalled Turkey's remark that the Turkish soldiers located near Bashiqa are not a threat to Iraq's territorial integrity.

The visit is significant due to being an opportunity for Ankara and Baghdad to promote enhanced bilateral ties over dispute on Turkey's contribution to fight against Daesh in Iraq.

Yıldırım's visit is also considered to be an opportunity to share their respective positions on recent regional developments and promote enhanced bilateral ties.

Last Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held talks -- by phone -- with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi. During their conversation, Erdoğan reportedly told al-Abadi that Yıldırım planned to visit Iraq sometime in January.

Turkey has a longstanding military training mission at Camp Bashiqa, where Turkish soldiers have trained both Peshmerga fighters and local tribal volunteers in combat techniques.

In recent months, the mission's presence in Mosul in northern Iraq has led to tension between Baghdad and Ankara amid calls by some Iraqi lawmakers for Turkish troops to withdraw.