Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Experts familiar with the Turkish affairs believes that a small number of armed forces personnel were involved in attempted coup in Turkey, and that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s use of force against opponents will create problems in the country.

Former Pakistani ambassador to Turkey Tariq Azizuddin told Daily Times that an attempted military coup by such a small number of armed forces was simply stupid.

He said that out of 0.65 million of the organised Turkish army, only 1,400 to 1,500 participated in the attempt to topple the government. “A majority of them were either caught or killed by police and public. Due to unity of the people, democracy and democratic leadership remained safe and intact in Turkey.”

He said that during the regime of President Erdogan, Turkey’s economy has been developing by leaps and bound, especially during the last eight to nine years. The forces behind the attempt actually wanted to mar the progress the country had made in a decade, he said.

He said that Fethullah Gulen, who is on self-exile in America, is a well-known and strong opponent of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP). “Gulen’s influence on police, judiciary and the education departments is tremendous. His influence on Turkish army could not be ruled out.”

He was of the view that Erdogan had been anticipating a coup for the last four to five years.

“Erdogan, on the conditions of the European Union (EU), reduced the role of military involvement in national affairs. But some army officers were not ready to accept it.”

He said that Turkey had seen four successful military takeovers. “Due to this, President Erdogan and his government had taken preventive and defensive measures to thwart any attempt of a coup.”

Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, faculty member of Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, said that only a meagre faction of military officials attempted to topple the government in Turkey. “Neither their high command stood with them, nor did the majority of military officials supported them. The public, the government and the army together responded quickly against it and the attempted takeover collapsed.”

In response to a question, he said that if the present government of Erdogan used this incident against their political opponents, its implications would be negative on the country. He said that the Turkish government did not need to suppress their political opponents and adversaries on the excuse of an uprising.

“The political opponents of Erdogan have already weakened after the failed attempt. The Turkish government should concentrate on its performance rather than taking revenge, especially in the scenario when the international community is raising issues of human rights violations,” he said. “Banning the media and jailing human rights activists and media persons would be extremely harmful for President Erdogan.”