Lahur Jangi Talabani, head of the PUK’s intelligence agency, the Dazgay Zanyari, Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa, head of Peshmerga unit 70, Wasta Rassul, the Peshmerga commander in Kirkuk, and Mustafa Chawrash, head of the PUK’s Peshmerga organization, met with PUK military and security forces on Saturday and asked them to not become involved in any disputes or tensions.
According to a statement issued by the PUK Peshmerga command of unit 70 forces, Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa and Mustafa Chawrash lead the meeting with “all the commanders of unit 70 forces, counter-terror, defense and emergency forces, border guards, electricity police, oil and gas police, and Talabani’s (Mam Jalal) Secretariat brigade that are now on the frontlines against ISIS.”
In the meeting, they agreed on three points by consensus.
First, the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces exist to protect the people and Kurdish lands. They are an important factor in keeping unity between all sides and entities within the Kurdistan Region.
Secondly, the PUK Peshmerga unit 70 will remain neutral. They will not take a side in any dispute or tensions but will advocate for unity within the party.
Third, Unit 70 forces consider themselves to be the holders of the legacy of martyrs and will not allow any person or party to try to divide or weaken the PUK.
On Thursday, Kosrat Rasoul Ali, first deputy of the PUK, and Barham Salih, second deputy, backed by several members of the PUK politburo, leadership committee, and MPs, announced the formation of a decision-making body in an apparent effort to wrest control of the party from the Talabani family.
The leading faction of the party, headed by Jalal Talabani’s spouse Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, denounced their declaration and called for the party to hold a meeting to find a solution to the rift.
The events have raised concerns that the political dispute may disable the PUK, the second most powerful party in the Kurdistan Region. There are also fears that PUK security forces may become involved in the party’s row as the ranks of the leadership of both factions include senior military and security officials.
