Liberation of Mosul easier than administration of city post-IS: Kurdistan PM

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday stated the liberation of Mosul was easier than administrating the city later.

In a conference held in Erbil regarding tolerance and coexistence, Barzani said a political agreement between all ethnic and religious groups of Nineveh was crucial after the liberation of Mosul from the so-called Islamic State (IS).

“Liberating Mosul is much easier than the later process of administrating the city, but unfortunately, so far no serious intentions and realistic views have been shown for these realities,” Barzani stated.

“Oppositely, there is some ignorance that makes post-IS Mosul no less dangerous than the presence of IS in the city,” he continued.

The Kurdish PM mentioned a realistic agreement on the reality of Mosul’s geography, demography, and political situation was the only guarantee for the stability and security of all ethnic and religious groups in the area.

According to him, such an agreement would prevent the “fire” of some internal and regional agendas.

“We should be vigilant as it is a genuine and serious threat,” Barzani added, stating no one could predict a secure and stable situation for the region in the future.

IS occupied Mosul in June 2014.

Shortly afterward, the extremist group expanded to other provinces in Iraq, including Nineveh, Salahaddin, Anbar, and Diyala.

Since then, the group has lost most of the territory it once controlled.

On Oct. 17, Iraqi and Peshmerga forces with the support of the US-led coalition warplanes launched the military operation of retaking Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq.

The operation is ongoing and forces have so far liberated over 20 percent of the city.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany