Time for an independent Kurdistan is near

The Peshmarga are waging war against more than just the Islamic State (IS). Their long-term goal is an independent nation for Kurds. However, the struggle in Kirkuk is multifaceted. Unlike some other regions of Kurdistan, Kirkuk’s governance is being challenged and contested directly by international forces and the central Iraqi government.

The US Department of State made a recent statement in support of the central government in Baghdad during Najmaldin Karim’s, the governor of Kirkuk, visit to the US capitol to lobby for more support of Kurdistan and it’s ‘freedom fighters’.

“We support the central government in Baghdad and Prime Minister Abadi and his efforts to continue to govern Iraq through a unity government, and that support and that policy is not going to change,” said State Department spokesperson John Kirby when asked if the US would support Kirkuk province autonomy.

The assertion comes on the heels of Governor Karim’s announcement that “Kirkuk needs to get away from Baghdad.” The politics, however, do not phase Kamal Kirkuki, member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) political bureau, who commands the Peshmerga on the Kirkuk frontline.

“We have to make a decision about our future as Kurds. Self determination,” said Kirkuki.

Peshmerga soldiers on Western Kirkuk front line, Kurdistan Region. (Photo: Taylor Smith)
Kirkuk has a long and tumultuous history in terms of governance. An oil rich city, it has long been contested by the central government, militias, and Kurdistan’s government.

Currently, it falls mostly under Kurdish control due to their success in clearing the region of IS fighters.

During his time as commander, Kirkuki’s troops have killed 1,569 IS fighters. The numbers, he assures, are accurate “up until last night.”

“They attack us daily. They have so much ammunition, I don’t know where it is coming from,” Kirkuki continued.

Dbis is one of the front lines he is referring to in Kirkuk province that experiences daily assaults. Tall reeds scrape at the sides of the Kirkuki’s armored car as it drives down the dusty, now well traversed, dirt path to the combat zone. Since 2014, his Peshmerga have beat back IS through 3 major operations known as Operations Scorpion 1, 2, and 3.

Hussein Yazdanpanah, Vice President of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) from Iran, and his troops defend the new frontline at Dbis against IS and the Iraqi central government alike. Yazdanpanah, 49 years old, says he will fight for the autonomy of all Kurdistan with or without international support. He believes that once the fight against IS is over, the Peshmarga will fight for self-rule. His biggest concern, however, is not Washington, but the surprisingly advanced training of IS militants.

“They’re not really jihadists; they have strategies and plans,” he said.

IS is not the only ones with plans, however. Masoud Barzani, President of the KRG, told legislators in February that an independence referendum will be held in October 2016.

The referendum will be non-binding and is meant to make a point rather than a vote on immediate secession.

It is not the first time Kurdistan has held an independence referendum, though. In January 2005, the Kurdistan Independence referendum of January 2005 informally asked whether citizens in Iraqi Kurdistan favored an independent Kurdistan or remaining a part of Iraq. 98.8% voted in favor of an independent state.

Peshmarga morale remains hopeful that this independence referendum will only be more successful. They point to their abilities in beating back IS as proof for success.

Yazdanpana’s Peshmerga appear unperturbed by Washington’s denial of their call to arms. They don’t question the autonomy of Kirkuk, in fact in their minds, they’ve moved on to the next big battle—the independence fight for eastern Kurdistan.

“When an enemy attacks your country, everyone has to do something to protect their family. But after IS, we will liberate the eastern part of Kurdistan as well,” said Zuhar, a 24-year-old female Peshmerga fighter.

Peshmerga female fighters on the western Kirkuk front line, Kurdistan Region. June 9, 2016 (Photo: Taylor Smith)

Both she and her husband have fought with the PAK since IS first became a tangible threat. Her husband, Halo Ramshti, returned to fight by her side only a little over two weeks after losing his left arm and burning 33 percent of his body in a demining explosion.

Kirkuki says that it is men and women like this that make Kurdistan’s independence inevitable. He says whether or not Washington or the Iraqi central government approve, Kurdistan will operate as an autonomous country.

“Iraq, for us, is nothing. We don’t listen to them. We don’t take anything from them. It is finished,” said Kirkuki.

Peshmerga front line on the western Kirkuk Province, Kurdistan Region. June 9, 2016 (Photo: Taylor Smith)

Taylor Smith is an Italian American journalist currently based in Erbil, Iraq.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Kurdistan24.

Editing by Delovan Barwari