Peshmerga, Iraqi army reach deal on Fish Khabur
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdish and Iraqi military officials have reached a deal on the Fish Khabur border crossing.
They have agreed on the deployment of federal forces after clashes at the disputed border crossing, AFP reported, citing a government source.
The two sides met on Sunday afternoon for a second round of talks in the city of Mosul as they try to resolve tensions.
The Peshmerga delegation is headed by acting Peshmerga Minister Karim Shingali and the US is overseeing the talks.
“The meeting between the high military delegations of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq was held under the supervision and monitoring of the US,” former Iraqi military chief of staff Babakir Zebari told Rudaw.
The two sides are working to negotiate a truce after deadly clashes this month in the disputed areas that erupted after the Kurdistan Region held a referendum on independence that also included the regions claimed by both the central and regional governments.
The most recent clashes occurred at the Fisk Khabur border crossing, which is located in undisputed Kurdistan Region territory. One of the main issues to be resolved in the talks is the borders. Baghdad wants the borders brought under federal control.
After meeting on Saturday, chief of staff of the Iraqi army General Othman al-Ghanim said they had “reached a mutual understanding on some points,” but a final agreement was in the hands of the Kurdish delegation.
Updated at 9:05 pm
They have agreed on the deployment of federal forces after clashes at the disputed border crossing, AFP reported, citing a government source.
The two sides met on Sunday afternoon for a second round of talks in the city of Mosul as they try to resolve tensions.
The Peshmerga delegation is headed by acting Peshmerga Minister Karim Shingali and the US is overseeing the talks.
“The meeting between the high military delegations of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq was held under the supervision and monitoring of the US,” former Iraqi military chief of staff Babakir Zebari told Rudaw.
The two sides are working to negotiate a truce after deadly clashes this month in the disputed areas that erupted after the Kurdistan Region held a referendum on independence that also included the regions claimed by both the central and regional governments.
The most recent clashes occurred at the Fisk Khabur border crossing, which is located in undisputed Kurdistan Region territory. One of the main issues to be resolved in the talks is the borders. Baghdad wants the borders brought under federal control.
After meeting on Saturday, chief of staff of the Iraqi army General Othman al-Ghanim said they had “reached a mutual understanding on some points,” but a final agreement was in the hands of the Kurdish delegation.