creation of a so-called “safe zone” in rastern Syria has gotten off to good start, with U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces pulling back from a small, initial area along Turkish border, a Syrian Kurdish official said — but calm can only prevail if Turkey also removes its troops. 

Talks over mutual security concerns 

Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of executive committee of U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Council, said understanding reached between Washington and Ankara last month, and in coordination with Syrian Kurdish-led forces, constitutes a step toward starting a dialogue over mutual security concerns. 

“We seek to find a way to dialogue, and starting to implement this plan expresses our reiness and seriousness,” Ahmed said in an interview Tuesday with Associated Press. “We want to tell world and coalition that we are rey to take serious steps to get to dialogue,” she ded. Turkey views U.S-backed Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, in Syria as an extension of a Kurdish insurgency within Turkey. 

Ankara has alrey carried out military offensives inside Syria to push group away from western end of border. Over last weeks, Turkish officials threatened a similar offensive in rastern Syria, where troops from U.S.-led coalition are deployed to help Syrian Kurdish-led forces in combatting remnants of Islamic State group. 

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Turkish threats to inve Syria 

Syrian Kurds have been America’s only partners on ground in Syria’s chaotic civil war. With U.S. backing, y proved to be most effective fighting force against Islamic State group and anunced its territorial defeat earlier this year. Kurds w worry about being abandoned by U.S. amid Turkish threats to inve Syria, and are keen to work out an agreement with both parties that would safeguard ir gains. 

Ankara and Washington anunced last month that y would begin measures to implement a border “safe zone” to dress Turkish security concerns. Kurdish-led forces are expected to pull out of zone, but details must still be worked out — including who n would patrol and minister it. 

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over weekend repeated threats of an offensive if Turkey’s demands on zone are t satisfied, including that its soldiers control area. Ahmed said more U.S. troops will probably be needed to implement zone, though Americans have t said wher y will deploy any. 

“In coming days, and because of needs of formation and implementation of security mechanism, y may need more forces. It is t yet clear what U.S. ministration would decide,” she said.re was immediate comment from U.S.-led coalition. re are around 1,000 U.S. troops in Syria on a mission to combat IS militants. President Donald Trump h said he wants to bring troops home, but military officials have vocated a phased approach. 

Ahmed said initial steps have been positive but for calm to prevail Turkish troops must also retreat from Syrian borders. She said while Turkey expresses concerns about Kurdish-led forces, it is Ankara that has been a source of threat to Syria with various military operations and its military posts in western Syria. 

Kurdish-led forces have begun removing fortifications along border and have moved some troops away from border. At least two U.S-Turkish joint reconnaissance flights have flown over area, and on Tuesday, joint patrols between U.S. troops and Kurdish-led forces also examined area where fortifications have been removed. 

deal envisions an area five to 14 kilometers deep (three to eight miles) with YPG presence, as well as removal of heavy weapons from a 20-kilometer-deep zone (12 miles), she said. Turkey wants a deeper zone. length of zone has t yet been agreed on, but will likely stretch hundreds of kilometers (miles). 

Ahmed said discussions over or details of security mechanism will open way for Syrians who h been displaced from those areas, many of m fled to Turkey, to return. Turkey is home to 3.6 million Syrian refugees and Ankara said it wants safe zone to provide an opportunity for many to return home. 

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Ahmed said only those originally from eastern Syria would be allowed to return. Kurdish officials worry Turkey wants to bring back large numbers of Syrians to areas, which were previously controlled by IS militants, changing demographic balance in area. Syria’s Kurds are predominantly from country’s rast, living in mixed or Kurdish-dominated vills and towns re. She said residents will be displaced because of implementation of safe zone. 

“Calm must bring with it sustainable dialogue. Calm alone is t eugh,” Ahmed said. “If Turkish troops don’t pull away from borders, it will always be considered a threat.” 

Ar top Kurdish official, Aldar Khalil, said Kurdish-led ministration and forces would t accept Turkish forces or permanent bases in so-called safe zone or a free hand for Turkish flights over area.He said while an understanding has been reached, a final deal would constitute an indirect Turkish recognition of Kurdish-led ministration in rastern Syria. He said, however, a final deal is t imminent. 

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