PM Abadi aims to form a Kurdish military unit for Kirkuk
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi aims to form a Kurdish military unit in Kirkuk as per a promise he made during the election campaign, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official in Kirkuk told Rudaw.
Yasin Ezzadin, deputy head of the PUK office in Kirkuk, said: "It is not clear yet how the military unit will be formed, but it will be part of Iraqi army and consisted of only Kurdish residents of Kirkuk."
Ezzadin explained that the main goal of establishing this Kurdish unit is to provide security in Kirkuk.
Registration and recruitment for joining this unit has not started yet, he added.
After the retreat of Peshmerga forces on October 16, 2017, Kirkuk experienced some instability and Kurdish parties have since asked for the return of Peshmerga forces to the province.
"We believe that the establishment of this military unit is harmful and Kurdistan's political parties must stop this process since based on the Iraqi constitution, Kirkuk is a disputed area and has to have a joint administration," Ezzadin said.
Yasin Ezzadin, deputy head of the PUK office in Kirkuk, said: "It is not clear yet how the military unit will be formed, but it will be part of Iraqi army and consisted of only Kurdish residents of Kirkuk."
Ezzadin explained that the main goal of establishing this Kurdish unit is to provide security in Kirkuk.
Registration and recruitment for joining this unit has not started yet, he added.
After the retreat of Peshmerga forces on October 16, 2017, Kirkuk experienced some instability and Kurdish parties have since asked for the return of Peshmerga forces to the province.
"We believe that the establishment of this military unit is harmful and Kurdistan's political parties must stop this process since based on the Iraqi constitution, Kirkuk is a disputed area and has to have a joint administration," Ezzadin said.