Kurds offer joint border deployment as Iraq threatens to resume military operations
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s Kurdistan region said yesterday it has offered a joint Kurdish-Iraqi deployment at a strategic crossing into Turkey, with the participation of the US-led coalition that was helping fight Islamic State.
The offer was disclosed hours after Iraqi armed forces accused the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of delaying the hand-over to Iraq of control of the borders with Turkey, Iran and Syria, and threatened to resume operations to capture Kurdish-held areas.
The KRG defence department said the offer was part of a ‘deconfliction’ proposal made to the Iraqi government on Oct 31.
The other points included a ceasefire on all fronts, continued cooperation in the fight against Islamic State and a joint deployment in so-called disputed territories, which are areas claimed by both the KRG and the Iraqi central government.
The KRG “continues to welcome a permanent cease fire on all fronts, deconfliction and the start of a political dialogue” with Baghdad, the Kurdish statement said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered economic and military retaliation after Iraqi Kurds voted for independence in a referendum held in September that Baghdad declared illegal.
He insists that the KRG cancel the referendum’s outcome as a pre- condition for any dialogue.
Iran and Turkey back his measures against Iraq’s Kurds, fearing the drive for independence will spread to their own Kurdish populations.
The joint deployment at the strategic Fish-Khabur crossing was meant “as a goodwill gesture and trust-building exercise that ensures a limited and temporary arrangement until an agreement is reached in accordance with the Iraqi Constitution”, the Kurdish statement said.
Fish-Khabur is strategically important for the Kurdistan region because it is the point where its oil pipeline crosses into Turkey. — AFP