Politician: elaborate plan to make Kirkuk source of tension amongst region's components

On October 16, 2017, the Iraqi forces, led by the Iranian Popular Mobilization Forces, imposed their control of the city of Kirkuk.

After the authorities in Başûr Kurdistan began to talk about the independence referendum, the Baghdad government, with the support of Turkey and Iran, began making threats to Başûr.

Baghdad took advantage of the regional and international rejection of the referendum, and at dawn hours on October 16, 2017, the Iraqi army and the Popular Mobilization Forces began attacking the Peshmerga forces' points in Kirkuk, Khurmatu, Daquq and Hawija. Then orders come from the leaders of the region to withdraw the Peshmerga.

Following the occupation of the city, numerous reports spoke of violations by the Popular Mobilization Forces against the Kurds in the city, while Turkey expanded its influence by exploiting the Turkmen parties there.

"The occupation of Kirkuk has historical roots."

About this, the head of the Future Syria Party spoke to al-Shahba and Afrin branch, Muhammad Rashid, saying: “The issue of the occupation of Kirkuk has historical roots, as its strategic importance means a lot to the parties interfering in Iraqi affairs, since the Iraqi army took over the city of Kirkuk and passed through many plans, from the Anfal massacre to Halabja massacre, we believe that Kirkuk is the key to the agendas in the region of Iraq and northern Iraq, and it is a source of inspiration for the politically active forces in the Iraqi arena, because controlling Kirkuk means controlling the capabilities and gains of the region’s economy in general.

A well-managed scheme

Rashid added, "Kirkuk has gone through many circumstances that were prepared by a group of the dominant countries in the region, especially the Ba'athist regime during the time of Saddam Hussein, which had a prominent role in changing the demography of Kirkuk in general, so there was a well-planned and executed plan for Kirkuk to be a source." Disagreement between all the components there. "

Rashid added, "Kirkuk is considered the node of the Iraqi north, the Kurdistan region and all components of the Iraqi state, and if a solution formula is not reached, Kirkuk will be a knot and disease in the body of all parties, as it was a loss for all components, especially the Kurdish forces present there."

"Iran and Turkey have a fundamental role in making Kirkuk a focal point of tension"

On the role of regional powers in the occupation of Kirkuk and its repercussions, Rashid explained: “Iran has a fundamental role in making Kirkuk a focus of tension between the components present in Iraq in general. Iran, since the beginning of the arrival of the Shiite ideological, has seriously thought of completing the Shiite crescent in the Middle East, Kirkuk was the main pillar. For it, given its oil richness, as well as the presence of Shiite parties seeking to fabricate tension among the coexistent components, making the region on a hot plate, with tacit or overt support, and the PMF attack proved that.

Regarding the Turkish role, Rashid added: "I sought to exploit the Turkmen front and a group of Turkmen and recruit them within agendas to create tension. Therefore, we conclude that there are two main parties seeking to make Kirkuk a tense city for the purposes of the Turkish and Iranian state."

" Turkey adopts one systematic policy in Kirkuk and the occupied Syrian cities "

Muhammad Rashid likened what is happening in Kirkuk to the practices taking place in the areas occupied by Turkey in northern and eastern Syria, saying: “There is a common denominator, both in southern and western Kurdistan, and when we remember Kirkuk, it comes to minds in Afrin, where the policies committed in the occupied areas are all one policy. In the field of demographic change, systematic policies to empty it of its indigenous population, and political plans by actors to change real concepts.

He added, "As we know that Kirkuk is a purely Kurdish region and everyone bears witness to that, the neighboring and racist-minded countries are always pushing towards the practice of racist oppressive policies to impose their agendas so that the rich countries are within their control, so the Turkish state is striving to activate some Arab elements that have a racist thinking, to Arabize the city of Kirkuk and change the names of its streets, so that the main party in Kirkuk does not have a role in this historic city.

Kurdish parties in Başûr Kurdistan bear the bulk of the responsibility

On the role of the Kurdish parties in Başûr Kurdistan in what is happening in Kirkuk, Rashid said: “The political parties bear the greatest burden of this stifling crisis.”

The head of the Future Syria Party of Afrin and al-Shahba branch called on the Kurdish parties in Başûr Kurdistan and all the components to dialogue, saying: “In the coming days, if the Kurds and other components do not go to a real political consensus, then the region is going to greater and deeper tensions than those we witness, so the political parties are required to sit to the table of dialogue seriously and reach an agreement that includes all the components present in the region.

J.O

ANHA