Syrian Kurds must unite quickly: former US diplomat

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Syrian Kurds must create a united position as soon as possible to secure a better future in the country, a former US diplomat said earlier this week.

“The sooner they (Syrian Kurds) all come together and create a united position to talk to both Turkey and Damascus, the better. The sooner the better. That’s not something America has control over, but I think it would be good if the Americans would give that advice to friends in the Syrian Kurdish region,” said Robert Ford, who is also a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, referring to the Kurdish enclave in northeastern Syria, known to the Kurds as Rojava.

There are ongoing attempts to resume intra-Kurdish talks between the Kurdish government and opposition parties in Rojava. The talks started ten years ago, but have been stalled for years due to differences of opinion.

The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), an umbrella group of Kurdish opposition parties in Rojava, is in constant rivalry with the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PYD) over maintaining influence in Rojava.

Mazloum Abdi, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), held a meeting with the ENKS in recent days to pave the way for the resumption of the ENKS-PYD meetings.

Abdul-Hakim Bashar, ENKS representative, told Rudaw in Damascus that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is intervening in Rojava affairs.

“People I talk to in the Syrian Kurdish region say that the Qandil people (PKK commanders) play a very powerful role, often right behind the scenes, and I think this makes the Turks very uncomfortable,” Ford said.

“If we are talking about a negotiation between Türkiye on the one hand and the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Autonomous Government on the other. I think two things are clear: first, the Qandil people cannot play a role in the negotiations, nor should they expect to hold any position of authority, political authority or military authority in the future. I mean, this has to end,” the expert explained.

Qandil is a mountain in the Kurdistan region, where the PKK’s headquarters are believed to be located.

He also stressed that “the United States should try to convince Türkiye and the Autonomous Administration and the SDF to negotiate.”

Syrian Kurds have urged Kurdish political parties to unite to secure their place in the new Syria.

Turkish-backed militants have intensified their attacks on Kurdish forces in northern Syria since the regime’s collapse earlier this month.