CRI听力:NATO Offers Political Support for Turkey's Border Campaign

NATO has offered political support for Turkey's campaign against militants in Syria and Iraq at an emergency meeting requested by Turkey to discuss instability at its borders.

The meeting comes after Ankara stepped up its role in the U.S.-led fight against the Islamic State group with air strikes, also hitting Kurdistan Workers Party camps in Iraq on the weekend.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance expressed "strong solidarity" with Turkey, a key NATO member.

"All allies expressed their strong support for Turkey and we stand all together united in solidarity with Turkey and all allies also condemned terrorism in all its forms."

Both NATO and Turkey have played down any idea that the military alliance might provide air or ground support for Turkey's campaign in Syria and Iraq.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggests NATO may have a duty to become more involved.

"Today, NATO has an urgent meeting which will include this subject. I believe that NATO will declare they are ready to take the necessary steps which they are supposed to take after this meeting."

Turkish opposition politicians and critics accuse Erdogan of taking up the campaign against the Islamic State as political cover to clamp down on Kurds.

The outlawed PKK has waged an insurgency against Ankara for Kurdish autonomy since 1984.

In response, Erdogan has made clear that his country cannot continue the peace process with the Kurds amid attacks by Kurdish militants on Turkish targets.

"It is not possible for us to continue the peace process with those who threaten our national unity and brotherhood."

There have been a series of clashes recently between Turkish forces and Kurdish PKK militants.

Turkey has also been hit by attacks by Islamic State-linked militants - including one that left 32 dead in the town of Suruc last week.

Turkey considers both the PKK and the IS to be terrorist organizations.