PDKI rejects end of armed struggle in Iranian Kurdistan
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Democratic Party – Iran (PDKI) denied on Saturday whether the group had stopped its armed struggle in Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat) against the Iranian government.
A high-ranking source told Kurdistan24 both Kurdish opposition groups in Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat) stopped their armed resistance and withdrew Peshmerga fighters.
The decision of both the PDKI and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) followed after a series of meetings with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the source told Kurdistan24.
The source stated both parties chose to stop their armed activities for the safety and stability of the Region.
“Both groups have decided to withdraw their Peshmerga fighters in Rojhilat and on the Kurdistan Region border,” the source explained.
Speaking to Kurdistan24 following the release of the news, a member of the PDKI political bureau Rostam Jihangiri rejected whether they had stopped their struggle against Iran.
Jihangiri stated they would continue political activities in Rojhilat and defend themselves with arms whenever they are hindered, but will not initiate military actions.
“For us, backing off from our armed struggle against Iran in Rojhilat is the red line,” he added.
The PDKI reignited a conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran in June this year, 20 years after their silencing of weapons in 1996 for the sake of not jeopardizing Kurdish gains in Iraq.
The fighting in the last three months saw dozens of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and Iranian soldiers killed in rural and mountainous areas of Rojhilat.
In response, Iran repeatedly shelled border areas in the Kurdistan Region where PDKI has bases, causing displacement and panic among the local civilian population.
The KRG had previously issued a statement, asking Tehran to stop shelling the Region’s soil.
“The [KRG] is committed to international laws to protect the borders of neighboring countries and to work for achieving peace and stability for the people of Kurdistan, Iran, Turkey and the entire region,” read the statement.
Additionally, the KRG urged the Kurdish opposition groups in Iran not to use the Region’s border as military bases.
“We ask all parties to stop using Kurdistan territories to launch attacks, and to respect the stability, legal obligations, and friendly relations with its neighbors,” the KRG said.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany