“The Peshmerga Ministry, including all of its units, needs new reforms to catch up with the movement of military advances in the region,” Karim Sinjari, acting Peshmerga minister, told the ‘Peshmerga of the Future’ conference.
US, British, and German military advisers are assisting a 10-year program to restructure the Kurdish armed forces.
High ranking officers are working with the foreign military advisors on a 35-step reform plan that has been endorsed by the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), said Sinjari.
The Peshmerga worked closely with international coalition forces in the war against ISIS. It was through this coordination that the British, American, and German partners began developing a reform strategy with the Kurdish forces.
“The Peshmerga have a noble and hard-earned reputation for their sacrifices and combat skill. The ‘Peshmerga of the Future’ program is the vehicle to take the Peshmerga to the next level of capability and professionalism,” US Col. David Chiarenza, military advisor to the Peshmerga, told the conference.
The reforms are “a vital activity in order to remain capable, affordable, and relevant in changing circumstances,” said Col. Will Davis, British military consultant to the Peshmerga.
“Excessive costs, poor performance, changes in politics and society, evolving threats, new technology, and new ideas – those are the drivers of change,” he explained.
The bulk of the Peshmerga are loyal to tribal-based parties – the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)’s 70 Unit and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)’s 80 Unit – taking orders from their political leaders rather than the government itself via the Ministry.
The two parties were at war with each other just two decades ago. While they have since collaborated politically, forming coalition governments in the KRG, the KDP and PUK have each continued to maintain their own armed forces.
After the independence referendum and the Iraqi government takeover of the disputed areas, in addition to the KRG’s spiraling military expenditure, the public wants to see a unified Peshmerga, said Gareth Stansfield, professor of Middle East politics and director of the Centre of Kurdish Studies at the University of Exeter.
Stansfield first came to the Kurdistan Region in 1996 – sent by the British government to advise the PUK and KDP. He has seen the Peshmerga and their intra-cooperation and coordination with Iraqi forces wax and wane over the years.
Now, “the Kurdish people, I think, expect and demand the reform of the Peshmerga for the sake of the Peshmerga and for the sake of Kurdistan, and I will argue for the sake of Iraq as well,” he said.
All three foreign experts said the reforms will only be successful only if they are backed by the political leadership.
“Successful change only occurs when it is led from the top by political and military leaders together,” said Col. Davis.
Professor Gareth Stansfield describes the challenges ahead for unification of the 70 and 80 Units. Rudaw video
In addition to bringing the Peshmerga under one command, there needs to be greater coordination with Iraqi security forces, the experts concluded.
“Security gaps are appearing between the Kurdistan Region and territory controlled by Baghdad. ISIS is beginning to operate again,” Stansfield warned.
“Just remember, ISIS was doing exactly what it is doing now in 2011. And within three years, they took Mosul,” he said.
