Kurdistan in the new Middle Eastern Geopolitics

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Kurdistan's future will depend on whether it can turn geography, energy, security and regional connectivity into durable strategic influence in the Middle East. The future of Kurdistan in the Middle East will not be decided by a single referendum, a constitutional amendment in Baghdad, a peace agreement in Ankara, or a change of government in Tehran. It will be determined by whether Kurdish actors can convert geography, institutions, energy, security capabilities, economic connectivity and international relationships into durable strategic power. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has entered a period in which its traditional model of autonomy is under pressure at precisely the moment when its geopolitical importance is increasing. Baghdad is acquiring new instruments of leverage, Turkey is redefining its regional role, Iran is confronting a transformed security environment, Syria is undergoing a fundamental political transition, Washington is reconsidering the arch...

Where is the Kurdistan Peshmerga reform process heading?


Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj

Reform is one of the most important and influential issues in the world that creates great changes and successful reforms will result in very successful changes. Reforms can be implemented in all areas of the state and government that require reform, including security, political, economic, social, and many other areas and forms. Reform means reforming and changing situations, from bad to good or from worst to best, which is very effective in avoiding a major failure of governance or state. 

The reform of the Kurdistan Regional Government's Peshmerga forces is considered a military reform, which involves reforming the security forces in terms of their duties and units. Military reform in the Peshmerga forces has great effects and plays an important role because the security forces and the army in the Kurdistan Region, especially the Peshmerga forces have a major role and their duty is to protect the territory and dignity of the Kurdistan Regional Government That is why this process must be taken seriously and worked on seriously. In addition to the importance of the security forces, whose main task is to protect and secure the region for citizens and their citizens.

The Peshmerga Forces Reform Process Since 2014, the Peshmerga Minister has asked the British government to assist in this process because there is a Kurdish will for this step, the British and several other countries are ready to assist. Then the MNAG Advisory Group was formed, which consists of countries such as the UK, the US, Germany and the Netherlands. After studying the process by the coalition forces, a 28-point plan was rewritten for the reform of the Peshmerga forces. MNAG and the KRG Reform Board formed a joint group of experts for each program They do. All these points are necessary to make the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces a military force, and this process continues until now, which is about eight years and according to the commanders of the coalition forces, this project has not been completed. However, there is no progress in 2022, according to a senior military official of the Peshmerga Ministry. Three brigades of the 70th and 80th forces and the first and second brigades of the support forces are under the Peshmerga Ministry This is the unification of the 70th and 80th forces and the unification of all party forces under the umbrella of the Ministry of Peshmerga, because according to international law, countries can not deal with illegal forces and militias.

The Peshmerga has become a symbol of courage and fearlessness in the world after the arrival of ISIS. The Kurds have a significant role in the region and the Kurdish issue has long been a major issue for neighboring countries and to carry out the military reform process in the Peshmerga to have more ability and strength to confront all terrorist forces in a short-term and strategic process. For this purpose, the coalition forces encourage and support the military reform process.

The Peshmerga Forces Reform Process Project by the Allies includes the following areas:

1. Military Defense Strategy of the Ministry of Peshmerga.

2. Agenda of the Peshmerga forces.

3. Rules and regulations.

4. Establish a unified accounting unit.

5. Quadrennial budget planning.

6. Reorganization of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs.

7. Salaries, allowances, and pensions.

8. Establishment and promotion.

9. Vocational military education.

10. Principles and Training.

11. Military Judge.

12. Social equality (gender).

13. Class Officer.

14. Coordination with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense.

15. Effect of forces together.

16. Readiness.

17. Logistics.

18. Delivery.

19. Medical.

20. Payment of salaries electronically.

21. Uniforms.

22. Merger of the 70th and 80th forces with the Ministry of Peshmerga.

23. Peshmerga Housing Strategy.

24. Contract Management.

25. Assistance to the families of martyrs and wounded.

26. Intelligence Exploration and Surveillance (Drone) Project.

27. Ministry of Peshmerga Media Strategy Project.

28. Integration of military terms.

Obviously, all this was

It is obvious that all these areas will have a great impact on the organization and strengthening of the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces. As a result of the study, we found the following facts: 

In the process of reforming the Peshmerga forces, many factors have hindered the progress and completion of the process in a short period of time, such as:

1. Internal political factors in the Kurdistan Region.

2. Conflict and lack of trust between Kurdish forces.

3. Budget problems.

4. In addition to the intervention and policies of regional countries have become obstacles to this process and have caused its slowness and lack of progress.

• What is the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government in solving and eliminating these obstacles?

In order to remove all these internal and regional obstacles, it is the duty of the Kurdistan Regional Government to:

1. It is the main duty of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the political parties of the Kurdistan Region to work on this project, especially the ruling forces of this region such as the PUK and KDP to work together to consolidate democracy.

2. Institutionalize the security forces and merge the 70th and 80th forces, which are the two largest Peshmerga forces in terms of numbers, weapons and supplies.

3. The PUK and KDP must reach a political agreement and resolve their political problems because the agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the coalition forces states that they will not cooperate in the reform of the Peshmerga unless the Kurdish parties agree.

The outcome of the investigation 

As a result, this scientific study has two predictions for the future of the Peshmerga forces reform project, which can be divided into two fronts:

1. A front that is optimistic about the Kurdish forces and still sees a glimmer of light in the policy of Kurdish parties to unite and work for the interests of their nation Currently, 18-21 joint brigades have been placed under the Ministry of Peshmerga.

2. But there is another opinion that is not optimistic about the future of this project because they have comments on the history of Kurdish parties and believe that they do not see democracy in their interest There are obstacles between the Kurdish forces and regional states and neighbors are helping to make it difficult and work on the unification of the Kurdish forces. Because the unification of Kurds and Kurdish forces has never been in the interest of neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Iran, this front has come to the conclusion that this project will not succeed and eventually the allied forces will give up their assistance. Kurdish people hope that the opinions of this front will not be true, because then a great disaster will face the future of our people and our country, so it is important that the Kurdistan Regional Government and the two main parties work to make this reform of a brighter future for our people and country.

#Peshmerga #Kurdistan #KRG #Iraq #KurdishPolitics #Security #IraqSecurity #KurdistanRegion #Geopolitics #MiddleEast

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