ANKARA, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Only Turkish forces should be present in the planned safe zone in northeast Syria, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday, mentioning the idea to set up a safe zone after U.S. troops pull out of Syria.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Hulusi Akar reiterated that clearing the People's Protection Unit (YPG) from Syria is of utmost importance for Turkey's security, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Despite using different labels, the terrorist PKK, PYD, and YPG are in fact the same group, Akar added.
Turkey regards YPG militia, who are allied with the United States in the fight against the Islamic State group, as offshoot of outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels inside Turkey.
Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey will establish a safe zone in northern Syria along the length of its border with the assistance of the U.S.-led coalition forces.
