Kurds offer joint border deployment to Iraq govt

baghdad — Iraq’s Kurdistan region said on Thursday 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 Daesh.

The offer was disclosed after Iraqi armed forces accused the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of delaying the handover 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 October 31.

The other points included a ceasefire, continued cooperation in the fight against Daesh and a joint deployment in so-called disputed territories, which are areas claimed by both the KRG and the Iraqi government.

The KRG “continues to welcome a permanent ceasefire on all fronts, deconfliction and the start of a political dialogue” with Baghdad, the Kurdish statement said.

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. —

The KrG continues to welcome a permanent ceasefire on all fronts, deconfliction and the start of a political dialogue with baghdad

Kurdistan Regional Govt