The future of Kurdistan remains uncertain, with shifting regional alliances and internal divisions.

About Kurds and Kurdistan

• The Kurdish people or Kurds are mostly Sunni Muslim who are traditionally nomadic societies without any official homeland and continue to seek recognition, political rights, autonomy or independence.
• An estimated 25-30 million Kurds live in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Armenia.
• The Kurdish independence movement is a nationalist aspiration for self-determination among the Kurdish people with a demand for an autonomous region called  Kurdistan.
• Despite their long history, the Kurds remain stateless, as past efforts to establish Kurdistan have been unsuccessful.
• The struggle for Kurdish identity and autonomy has led to conflicts, revolts, and international involvement over the years.
  

Historical Background

Kurdish Identity and Ottoman Rule

• Kurdish societies were spread across the Ottoman Empire but never united under a single identity.
• Unlike Armenians or Turks, Kurds failed to claim a separate state during the post-WWI territorial divisions.
• The Ottomans once allied with the Kurds but later suppressed them to centralize power.

Treaty of Sevres (1920) – A Missed Opportunity

• The Treaty of Sevres proposed a Kurdish state in areas east of the Euphrates.
• However, Kurdish tribal leaders rejected the idea, fearing British influence and detachment from Muslim lands.

Rise of the Turkish Republic and Kurdish Suppression

• Mustafa Kemal Ataturk led the Turkish nationalist movement, rejecting the Treaty of Sevres.
• The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne denied Kurdish recognition, and the new Turkish state suppressed Kurdish identity.
  • Kurdish associations, publications, and schools were banned.

Kurdish Revolts and Repression

• 1925 Sheikh Said Revolt: Sunni Kurds revolted in Diyarbakir but failed due to tribal divisions.
• 1928 Mount Ararat Revolt: Lasted until 1930 but was crushed by Turkish forces with Iran’s support.
  • Aftermath: Widespread executions, village destruction, and military rule in Kurdish areas.
• Kurdish Revival in the 20th Century: After 1946, opposition parties began courting Kurdish tribal leaders, leading to a revival of Kurdish identity.
  • Urbanization and economic changes created a Kurdish working class, sparking leftist movements.
  • Kurdish activists began using political and media platforms to push for their rights, but the government cracked down.
• Emergence of the PKK: The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), founded by Abdullah Öcalan, adopted Marxist-Leninist guerrilla tactics.
  • The PKK targeted Turkish forces, landlords, and state collaborators.
  • Brutal state repression and military operations increased local Kurdish support for the PKK.
• Expansion Beyond Turkiye: The PKK gained support from regional Kurdish groups:
  • Democratic Union Party (PYD) – Syria: The PYD is the dominant Kurdish political party in Syria. It established the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which played a key role in fighting ISIS and governing the autonomous Kurdish region of Rojava.
  • Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) – Iran: PJAK operates in Iran, advocating for Kurdish self-determination and greater rights. It has engaged in armed resistance against the Iranian government, similar to the PKK’s struggle in Turkiye.
  • Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party (PCDK) – Iraq: PCDK is a PKK-affiliated political group in Iraq, promoting Kurdish nationalism and autonomy. It operates in Iraqi Kurdistan but faces opposition from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
  • The People’s Protection Units (YPG), formed in 2012, became the armed wing in Syria.

Kurdistan in Regional Politics

Iraq: Semi-Autonomous Kurdish Region

• Iraq’s 2005 Constitution recognized Iraqi Kurdistan as an autonomous region.
• The 2017 Kurdish independence referendum was overwhelmingly supported but led to an Iraqi military crackdown.

Syria: Kurdish Control in Rojava

• During the Syrian Civil War, the PYD/YPG established Rojava, an autonomous Kurdish zone.
• The U.S. supported the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIS, but Turkiye opposed them due to PKK links.

International Involvement

• Turkiye, the U.S., and the EU designate the PKK as a terrorist organization.
• Turkiye views the YPG as an extension of the PKK and opposes its U.S. backing
• Russia does not consider the PKK or PYD as terrorist organizations.
  • The PKK historically received Soviet-era support, and Moscow hosted a PKK congress in 1996.

Recent Developments

• The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has declared it will implement a ceasefire with Turkiye, heeding a call from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to disarm.
• This Cease fire will put an end to the 40 year old conflict with Turkiye.

India’s Stance on Kurdistan and the Kurds

• Humanitarian Assistance and Cooperation:  India sent medical supplies (bronchodilators, inhalers, ventilators) to support Kurdistan’s residents, reflecting its people-centric foreign policy.
  • India has actively contributed to relief and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, both independently and through United Nations-led initiatives.
• Diplomatic and Economic Engagement:  India established a Consulate in Erbil (August 2016) to enhance economic and commercial ties.
  • Indian companies participate in trade fairs and exhibitions in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, boosting business interactions.
• Indian Workforce in Kurdistan: Indian workers are highly valued in the Kurdistan region of Iraq , employed in sectors like steel, oil, and construction.

India’s Stance on the PKK

• India does not support the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and views it as a security concern in the region.
• India’s engagement with Kurdistan remains separate from any association with PKK-linked groups.
• New Delhi maintains a neutral stance on Kurdish political movements while prioritizing stability and cooperation with Iraq.