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Showing posts with the label Abdullah Öcalan

From the shadows to supreme power: why Iran chose Ahmad Vahidi to lead its confrontation with the United States

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Who Is Ahmad Vahidi? The Secretive IRGC Commander now shaping Iran's confrontation with the United States From the founding of the Quds Force to commanding the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi's rise signals a new era in Iran's military-led decision-making. As Tehran braces for a prolonged confrontation with Washington, one of Iran's most secretive and hardline military figures has emerged at the center of power—signaling a dramatic shift in how the Islamic Republic intends to wage its geopolitical struggle. Who is Ahmad Vahidi? Explore the rise of Iran's IRGC commander and how his growing influence could reshape Tehran's strategy toward the United States and the Middle East. For decades, Ahmad Vahidi remained largely behind the scenes, shaping Iran's military doctrine and regional strategy away from the public spotlight. Today, however, he stands at the heart of Iran's national security apparatus, overs...
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Öcalan renews call for legal framework to advance Turkey-PKK peace process

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Abdullah Öcalan's renewed call for a legal framework has reignited hopes for the most ambitious Kurdish peace initiative in a decade. Yet behind the rhetoric lies a complex geopolitical struggle involving Ankara, Iraqi Kurdistan, Syria, Iran, and the future of Kurdish politics across the Middle East. Abdullah Öcalan's latest call for a legal framework could reshape Turkey's peace process with the PKK. Here's what it means for Kurdistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran and regional stability. A Historic Moment—or Another Missed Opportunity? Nearly four decades after the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) launched its insurgency against the Turkish state, Abdullah Öcalan has once again placed himself at the center of one of the Middle East's most consequential political questions. From his prison cell on İmralı Island, the jailed PKK leader has renewed his appeal for a comprehensive legal framework that would transform the curre...
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The PKK after dissolution: peace dividend or strategic transformation?

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj   Why the End of the PKK May Mark the Beginning of a New Kurdish Political Era The PKK's decision to dissolve has been widely celebrated as a historic opportunity for peace. But lasting stability will depend not only on disarmament, but also on democratization, Kurdish political inclusion, and the future security architecture of Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. The PKK's dissolution could reshape Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, but lasting peace depends on political reforms, democratization, and resolving the Kurdish question. The PKK After Dissolution: Peace Dividend or Strategic Transformation? The announcement that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has begun dissolving its organizational structure may become one of the most consequential geopolitical developments in the Middle East in decades. After more than forty years of armed conflict that claimed tens of thousands of lives and reshaped security policies across Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, the prospect of endi...
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The PKK’s Transformation into the “Apoist Movement”

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  Rebranding, Disarmament, and the Emerging New Kurdish Political Era Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj    | Sulaimani, Iraq | 09 May 2026  -- The announcement by the Kurdistan Workers' Party that it is rebranding itself as the “Apoist Movement” may become one of the most consequential political developments in Kurdish politics in decades. According to Kurdistan24 , senior leadership figures declared that the organization’s disarmament and transition process had been completed, while calling on Türkiye to establish a legal and political framework for the continuation of the peace process. At first glance, this appears to be a symbolic name change.  In reality, it may represent the beginning of a much deeper geopolitical transformation: The evolution of Kurdish armed movements into political structures Türkiye’s attempt to end a decades-long insurgency A restructuring of Kurdish politics across the Middle East A possible transition from militant conflict toward negotiated...
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Lindsey Graham Passing Reshapes Republican Foreign Policy—and Raises Questions for the Kurds

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The sudden death of one of Washington's most influential Republican hawks removes a powerful congressional advocate for Ukraine, Israel, a hardline Iran policy, and Kurdish aspirations in the Middle East. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurds, Ukraine, Israel, and a tougher US policy toward Iran. Lindsey Graham's Sudden Death Leaves a Strategic Void in Washington WASHINGTON — Senator Lindsey Graham , one of the Republican Party's most influential foreign policy voices and one of President Donald Trump's closest congressional allies, has died at the age of 71 following a sudden illness, according to a statement released by his office. His unexpected death comes at a particularly volatile moment in American and Middle Eastern politics. Graham had recently traveled to Ukraine, remained deeply involved in congressional debates over Iran and Israel, and was p...
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Lindsey Graham's Death Leaves a Void in US-Kurdish Relations

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis     The passing of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of the most influential American advocates for the Kurdish people, raising questions about the future of bipartisan support for Kurdistan amid shifting US foreign policy priorities. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurdish people, creating uncertainty for future US-Kurdish relations. The Loss of a Longstanding Friend of Kurdistan The sudden death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has prompted an outpouring of tributes not only across Washington but throughout the Kurdistan Region, reflecting the rare position he occupied as one of the most consistent and influential American advocates for Kurdish interests. The Washington Kurdish Institute described Graham as a steadfast supporter whose commitment to the Kurdish people extended beyond political rhetoric, offering condolences to his family while highlighting...
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Can the stateless Nation of Kurdistan help save the Global Order?

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj A new geopolitical analysis argues that Kurdistan's experience of survival, mediation, and pragmatic diplomacy offers unexpected lessons as the international order faces its deepest crisis since World War II. A new geopolitical analysis argues Kurdistan's experience offers vital lessons for rebuilding international order amid the Iran war and global instability. As the World Fragments, Kurdistan Offers an Unexpected Lesson The international system is under unprecedented strain.  Russia's war in Ukraine, escalating tensions between Iran and the West, the paralysis of the United Nations, and growing competition among major powers have raised a fundamental question: Who still defines the rules of international order? According to a new geopolitical analysis by Greg Mills and Basil Gavalas , the answer may not come from Washington, Moscow, Beijing, or Brussels—but from an unlikely place: Iraq's Kurdistan Region . While lacking international r...
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