TURKS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER AUGUST 4 CHECKPOINT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002037 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2022 TAGS: PREL MOPS NATO AF TU SUBJECT: TURKS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER AUGUST 4 CHECKPOINT INCIDENT NEAR KABUL REF: ANKARA-KABUL-CENTCOM E-MAILS Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) MFA Undersecretary Apakan and D/CHOD Saygun have contacted Charge to discuss an August 4 incident near Kabul during which a U.S. patrol fired on a vehicle carrying Turkish ISAF soldiers. The Turks expressed concern about the encounter and noted a strong desire for closer coordination to avoid such incidents in the future. ¶2. (C) We followed up with Embassy Kabul, USNATO, and CENTCOM to obtain preliminary information on the incident. Charge briefed Saygun August 9 on our understanding that a non-tactical vehicle carrying two Turkish soldiers was fired upon after disregarding signals to stop by a U.S. foot patrol from Task Force Phoenix. We understand that TF Phoenix is conducting an investigation. Saygun said it was essential to coordinate better to avoid incidents of this kind and agreed that neither side should make the incident public. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY