Kirkuk authorities consider customs points on Erbil and Sulaimani roads

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kirkuk Security Committee on Sunday discussed setting up customs at two distinct points of entry with the Erbil and Sulaimani provinces, as well as reconsidering the current joint security checkpoint on the Kirkuk – Erbil road, which reopened this week after months of closure.

Baghdad-appointed acting Governor of Kirkuk, Rakan Saeed, who is also the head of the Kirkuk Security Committee, held a meeting on Sunday with the province’s security commanders.

They reportedly discussed setting up two customs points: one on the Erbil – Kirkuk highway and one on the Sulaimani – Kirkuk road. The checkpoints would only be erected after the Islamic Eid al-Adha holiday, according to a statement released by Saeed’s media office.

The committee also deliberated on the jointly-controlled security checkpoint on the Erbil – Kirkuk road in the town of Altun Kupri (Pirde), where Iraqi federal police and Kurdish forces are stationed.  The road reopened after almost ten months of closure following the Oct. 16 clashes between the Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces supported by Shia militias.

At the current joint checkpoint, Kurdish security is in charge of inspecting people entering Erbil from Kirkuk. On the other end, Iraqi federal police inspect people coming from Erbil to Kirkuk.

In the meeting, Saeed reportedly stressed that the Erbil – Kirkuk joint checkpoint should be entirely under the control and authority of the Iraqi federal police.

It was also mentioned that people coming from Erbil should be treated and inspected the same way as those who enter Erbil from Kirkuk.

The statement did not say whether the same measures would be applied at the Kirkuk-Sulaimani road checkpoint.

Kurdish forces use strict vetting and monitoring measures at checkpoints for security purposes, to ensure sleeper cells affiliated with terrorist organizations in Iraq do not sneak into the Kurdistan Region.

Such security measures are usually softened during commonly-celebrated festivals and events due to the enormous influx of tourists coming from the central and southern parts of Iraq.

One procedure involves documenting the names of non-residents entering the Kurdish semi-autonomous region, a measure that Kurdish security officials say has been successful in protecting the Kurdistan Region from any threats.

The Director-General of Erbil Security, Tariq Nouri, told Kurdistan 24 that measures implemented at the security checkpoints are not aimed at discriminating against any group or persons, but are necessary to ensure the stability and security of the region.

The Erbil – Kirkuk road is a strategic route between the two provinces, and it is also used as the main highway for Iraqis and Kurds traveling between the Kurdistan Region and other central and southern provinces of Iraq.

Editing by Nadia Riva