Implications of the Istiklal Bombings in Istanbul
Photo source: CNN By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront The Istanbul bombings in November 2022 are a stark reminder of the bombings in Turkish cities between 2015 and 2017 that foretold and renewed a new phase of insurgency of outlawed Kurdish groups. After the incident, the Turkish government apprehended a Syrian woman accused of planting the device after crossing illegally from Syria. She had confessed to attacking on behalf of Kurdish militants. Some observers have suggested that the Istanbul bombing could derail President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s economic reconciliation efforts, shifting his focus more exclusively to security-oriented policies. As per Reuters, analysts say that Erdogan is also pursuing unsustainable monetary easing in an effort to lower borrowing costs to stoke exports, investment, and employment. However, the YPG also put out a statement rejecting Turkey’s accusations. They accused Turkey of spinning a fictional and unrealistic scenario to prove their false cla