ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A high-ranking Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader said he welcomes Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) head Masoud Barzani’s initiative to prevent intra-Kurdish conflict. Murat Karayilan said that he appreciated the KDP leader’s statement because the Kurdish people’s enemies want to sow division among them. “This comes at a time where the enemy is trying to play games and wants to create problems and crisis among Kurdish parties,” Karayilan told the PKK-affiliated Roj News. “The statement made by Mr Masoud Barzani is important and we concur with his statement and appreciate it.” Earlier this month, Barzani visited the Balakayati district in the Kurdistan Region near the border with Iran and told locals and party members “Kurdish blood should not be shed by Kurds.” The PKK is an armed group fighting for greater political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The KDP and PKK fought in the 1990s during the Kurdish civil war, and relations have been strained since then. The KDP has close economic ties with Turkey. The PKK has long based itself in the Qandil mountains along the Kurdistan Region’s borders with Turkey and Iran. Turkey routinely bombs apparent PKK targets there. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has said it has concerns about Turkey’s airstrikes, which have killed civilians. The KRG has also called on the PKK and others to respect the KRG’s territorial integrity. Karayilan said that there has been no action in reducing tensions between Kurdish groups yet, but that Barzani’s comments are a start. “The statements we made and those made by Mr Masoud reduced tensions,” he said. “No practical steps have been taken yet, but we are hopeful.” This was not the only statement by a Turkish Kurdish leader on relations with the KRG lately. Following the removal of Kurdish mayors in Diyarbakir and other predominantly Kurdish cities in Turkey this month, a politician from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) called on KRG president Nechirvan Barzani to address the situation. “We also expect Mr Nechirvan Barzani to express his position [on the issue] because whatever sufferings we Kurds have experienced in the past was due to the lack of alliance and unity,” said member of the Turkish parliament Leyla Guven.
Kurdistan25-06-2026Erbil says Baghdad deducted, withheld around $37 billion in its budget share in 7 years
Kurdistan25-06-2026Viral Salafi preacher sexual exploitation case to be investigated next week: Minister
