Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan may create a buffer zone

[New Corduene]

Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan are considering creating a buffer zone along their porous border to stop Kurdish rebels from attacking the Islamic Republic, Nazim Dabbagh, the Kurdistan Region’s representative in Tehran, told Rudaw.

Dabbagh said the proposal came from Tehran, which warned the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) that Iraqi Kurdistan could face more shelling if the border isn’t brought under control. Iranian shelling against Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) rebels, who are based along the rugged mountain border, has killed several civilians and displaced hundreds of families over the past few months.

“The Iranian government said that if these measures are not taken, Iran will have no choice but to do so itself, and in that case there is no guarantee where the Iranian artillery shells will land,” Dabbagh said.

Dabbagh said that the Kurdish government finds the Iranian proposal, which could include deploying Iraqi troops to the border, reasonable.

“The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) considers these proposals positive and they hope that Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and PJAK will respect the Kurdish national interest and the humanitarian consequences and thus stop harming these regions.”

In response, PKK chief foreign relations officer Ahmet Deniz said that he didn’t think the KRG would deploy armed forces to those regions.

“If they do send armed forces, we will then have a different position,” Deniz said.

Regarding the demand of many in the KRG that the PKK and PJAK should leave the border areas, Deniz said,

“Evacuating those regions will not be in the interest of the KRG. Iran wants to control the Jasusan and Haji Ibrahim Mountains in anyway possible and with that, Iran will have full control over the Iraqi Kurdistan region.”

According to Aqin Zeylani, a PJAK leader, Iranian forces aim to gain control of some mountain range where the PJAK is currently based and holds them back.

“Iran’s fight is mainly over the Mountains of Jasusan, Hji Ibrahim and Khnera,” Zeylani said. “They (Iran) try desperately to advance beyond those mountains and control the area.”

According to information obtained by Rudaw, Iran has asked the KRG to deploy its forces to Jasusan and Haji Ibrahim Mountain range and keep PJAK and PKK fighters away. But PKK and PJAK leaders say they are not willing to surrender the area, claiming Iran is attempting to create a war between the Kurds.

“Iran wants to use tactics for igniting a war between us [PKK] and the KRG,” Deniz said. “This is Iran’s major hope. KRG needs to study this matter carefully.”

PKK and PJAK’s claim seemed to echo the concern of Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani, who told Kurdistan’s diplomats that deploying Peshmarga forces along the border could lead to conflict between Kurds.

“Sending our forces to the border may cause trouble and a Kurdish-Kurdish war could break out,” Barzani said in a conference. “We are now trying with [Iraqi] President Jalal Talabani to find a solution with Iran, Turkey, PKK and PJAK. If we succeed we will be offering a service to everyone and if not, we still won’t become part of the war. We’ll decide on how to protect our own borders.”

However, Dabbagh asserted the PKK’s concerns were unjustified.

“I find it unfair to claim that Iran wants to start a war among the Kurds,” he said. “Iran did not say the deployed Iraqi forces must consist of only Kurdish forces.”

Anwar Haji Osman, a KRG Ministry of Peshmarga official, said they have not received any orders to dispatch forces to the border areas.

Meanwhile, Rudaw has learned that Iran has stationed three military brigades, including heavy artillery, tanks, planes and military checkpoints, along its borders with Iraqi Kurdistan region near the Jasusan mountain range.

Iran shares a 1,200-kilometer border with Iran, about half of which is with Iraqi Kurdistan, extending from Khanaqin to the Turkish border in the north.
Jasusan and Haji Ibrahim mountains are militarily significant. According to Dabbagh, the monarchy government in Iraq and the subsequent regimes always maintained military posts on the peaks that overlook Iranian territory. Iran is concerned that the PKK controls the areas.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3976.html

[jjmuneer]

Sorry I mis-read, but I don't get it. This buffer zone, where exactly will it be and how will it be used? This is just rubbish.

[New Corduene]

Sorry I mis-read, but I don't get it. This buffer zone, where exactly will it be and how will it be used? This is just rubbish.

I really hope it is rubbish as you say, but the problem is that more bad news are coming. Read this next article posted on Today's Zaman. Not that I trust the nonsenses they publish, but it might just be worthy of a read:

Iraq's Kurdish regional administration approves Turkey's military operation
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-256874-iraqs-kurdish-regional-administration-approves-turkeys-military-operation.html

The Kurdish regional administration in northern Iraq has approved an operation by the Turkish military, which is preparing for a cross-border operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Taraf daily reported on Thursday.


Turkey has been negotiating with the Kurdish administration over the planned military operation. The Kurdish administration earlier requested until October to think over the plans and asked Turkey to take time to evaluate diplomatic options before launching an operation. In the meantime, Kurdish officials gathered with US and British officials, as well as with the PKK.

According to the Taraf report, the Kurdish administration, which failed to convince Turkey to give up on the plan, will allow an operation in the Xinere, Çemço and Çaykurna areas on the condition that it is limited to 45 days. Turkey, on the other hand, has avoided specifying dates for the operation. Turkey also requested that the Kurdish administration provide security on the roads near Xinere, Çemço, Dola Akoyan, Balende and Dolakoke.

Regarding Turkey's demand to establish military and logistic bases near the Kandil Mountains, where the PKK has command camps, the Kurdish administration has not yet replied, as the officials want more time to make their decision. The daily reported that Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) units have the systems necessary to tap local GSM operators and satellite telephones. Turkey wants to take these systems to a requested military base near Çaykurna.

Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani is expected to convene with spiritual leaders, political parties and members of his party next week in order to discuss the related developments. Barzani's Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (KYB) have been warned to be careful in their broadcasts on the issue of Turkey's military operations.

Helicopters are expected to be used most by the Turkish military during the operation. They are also discussing the possibility of establishing a helicopter base in southeastern Turkey, which indicates the possibility of a protracted operation.

Meanwhile the regional Kurdish administration is avoiding a potential conflict with the PKK. Therefore, northern Iraqi peshmerga troops will not participate in Turkey's planned military operation in the region.

[jjmuneer]

My first reaction is TRAITORS, but I doubt its true as you say.

[New Corduene]

My first reaction is TRAITORS, but I doubt its true as you say.

I don't say it. the article does!

I really wouldn't take that possibility away. As I have been saying for so long, KRG is truly under Turkey's influence. And the recent visits of high ranking Kurdish officials to Turkey (Nechirvan Barzani, and Hoshyar Zebari will also go there next month), plus Turkey's diplomats to Iraq prove that there is some sort of nasty hidden policy in motion.

[alan131210]

i wont happen dude