Kurdish Policy Analysis

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj

Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan — Kurdish Policy Analysis

 There are seven reasons behind raising the issue of disarming the Peshmerga

As calls to disarm the Peshmerga grow louder, analysts identify seven key local, Iraqi, and regional factors driving the debate. This analysis explores the political, security, and geopolitical implications for the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

The issue of disarming the Peshmerga forces, merging them with the Iraqi army, or joining the Hashdi Shaabi forces has recently become a hot political agenda. Political analysts say the issue is being raised more by Kurdish opponents. According to the Iraqi permanent constitution, the Peshmerga is an official and recognized force tasked with protecting the Kurdistan Region. 

They identify seven main factors and local, Baghdad and regional dimensions behind the raising of this issue at this time:

1. Baghdad's wishes

The federal government in Baghdad, if given the opportunity, wants to centralize all powers. As he has tried to achieve this centralization through salaries, budget and oil issues in the past, he now wants to take the military out of the hands of the Kurdish side if he gets the chance.

2. Justification for Iranian proxy fighters

The Shiite authorities in Baghdad want to use the issue of Peshmerga weapons as an excuse and a pressure card, so that armed groups, especially Iranian proxy forces in Iraq, do not have to hand over their weapons to the government.

3. Opposition to the federal system

Most of the Iraqi forces and parties that raise the issue of abolishing or changing the position of the Peshmerga are in some ways against the federal system itself in Iraq and believe that this system should not continue.

The Peshmerga is an official and recognized force under the Iraqi constitution, but the federal opponents want to weaken its position.”

4. Internal conflict of Kurdish forces

One of the weakest points in this equation is that unfortunately some Kurdish political forces encourage Shiite forces to move in that direction only to oppose each other and party conflict.

5. Lack of a unified national force

The Kurdistan Region's failure to build a unified, comprehensive and institutional Peshmerga force free from party hegemony over the past 30 years has given Baghdad stronger reasons to question its existence.

6. Kurdish position in West Kurdistan

The situation in the region and the Syrian government's efforts to regain control of Kurdish areas, along with the weakening of the Kurdish position in West Kurdistan, have had a direct negative impact on this issue. This retreat has also encouraged Arab forces in Iraq to attack Kurdish positions and constitutional rights.

7. Change in US Policy (Tom Barak's Policy)

Another international dimension is related to Tom Barak's policy in Syria and his anti-Kurdish positions, which have deepened the problems. This change in the attitude of international forces has created a favorable environment for Kurdish opponents to talk more about arming or weakening the Peshmerga forces

#Peshmerga #Kurdistan #Iraq #KRG #KurdishPolitics #MiddleEast #SecurityPolicy #HashdAlShaabi #Geopolitics #NationalSecurity #KurdishPolicyAnalysis #DefenseStrategy

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