ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The recent reunification of the Peshmerga marks the first phase of a longer process aimed at creating a nonpartisan, “unified Kurdistani force,” Kurdistan Region Vice President Mustafa Sayid Qadir told Rudaw in an interview that aired on Thursday. Speaking to Rudaw's Arez Khalid, Qadir stated that “The reunification of the Peshmerga forces is the first phase. Efforts have been underway for a long time to unify the Peshmerga, and the Peshmerga force must become a unified Kurdistani force,” Qadir said. As opposed to adherence to prior organizational party-aligned structures, Qadir underscored that orders to the two commands would come directly from the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, despite their commanders’ respective KDP and PUK party affiliations. Qadir’s remarks come days after Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani announced the reunification of the Peshmerga during an official ceremony on Monday. Under the reorganization, forces previously known as Units 70 and 80 have been placed within Area Command Two and Area Command Two, respectively, under the framework of the Region’s Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA) However, Qadir, who previously served as the Minister of Peshmerga Affairs (2014-2015), stressed that genuine unification would require dismantling partisan structures within the Peshmerga. “All signs of partisanship within the Peshmerga must end,” he said, referring to party branches and organizational bureaus operating within the force. He said Peshmerga personnel should be able to join the force without “party endorsement,” arguing that military recruitment should be based on professional criteria rather than party affiliation in order to achieve “a truly unified force.” The vice president also emphasized the continued importance of international assistance, particularly training, logistics and military support from the US-led coalition, stating that “the Peshmerga certainly still has a strong need for Coalition support,” and that the Kurdistan Region still faces challenges in funding its public-sector workforce. While acknowledging that political divisions within the Peshmerga have persisted for decades, he said the latest restructuring provides a strong foundation for further reforms. “The difficult phase has passed,” Qadir said, drawing attention to “the next phase to build the kind of Peshmerga force needed for the future of Kurdistan.” RELATED: No more partisan influence in Peshmerga affairs: President Barzani
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