Baghdad urges Peshmerga to withdraw to pre-2003 borders

By Haydar Hadi

BAGHDAD

The Iraqi central government has called on Kurdish Peshmerga forces to withdraw to the pre-2003 border amid tension between Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) over the Sept. 25 referendum on regional Kurdish independence.

Following the illegitimate vote, the Iraqi government sent forces into disputed areas, putting an end to the presence of Peshmerga forces there.

Peshmerga forces had seized control of the military base and oil wells in Kirkuk after clashes with Daesh terrorist group in 2014.

The Iraqi central administration now holds full control of Kirkuk's Bai Hassan and Baba Gurgur oil facilities, which were seized by Peshmerga after the 2003 U.S. invasion and is anticipated to halt Kurdistan Democratic Party's oil exports and add oil revenues to its own budget soon.

The Baghdad administration had announced on September 10 that Kirkuk-Yumurtalik (Ceyhan) pipeline would be repaired and operating soon.

Iraqi forces secured Kirkuk, Daquq, Tuz Khurmatu, Altun Kupri, Diyala's Khanaqin along with Jalawla and Mandali districts from Peshmerga forces. Iraqi forces now have the upper hand in Mosul's Sinjar and Zummar districts.

Peshmerga forces engaged in clashes with Iraqi forces in Mosul's Makhmur district on October 24 during which a number of Iraqi soldiers were killed and injured.

There is no clear information on whether control in Makhmur, known for its strategic significance, is secured by Iraqi forces.

Baghdad has made it clear that it wants to take control of Fishabur border crossing and Habur border crossing along with Erbil-Sulaymaniyah airports, which are regarded as a strategic triangle between Turkey, Syria and Iraq.

Baghdad urges Peshmerga to retreat

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered a 24-hour halt to military advance in the north on Friday, demanding Peshmerga forces to retreat from disputed territories and hand over border crossings in order to avoid a possible armed conflict with Erbil.

Baghdad aims to push Peshmerga back to pre-2003 borders, also known as Blue Line, as it was the case in the era of the former regime.

The Iraqi central administration held a high-level meeting with Kurdish officials in Mosul to convince Erbil to hand over border crossings and retreat back to the pre-2003 borders. However, KRG officials didn't meet the demand.

Othman al-Ghanimi, Iraqi Chief of Staff, spoke to the media after the meeting saying: "Peshmerga need to fall back to the pre-2003 borders.

KRG delegation needs to deliver its official decision in the coming hours. If they don't, then our views will change."

The pre-2003 borders include the cities of Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, and Erbil.

Crossing its own borders, Peshmerga forces gained control in northern Mosul, Kirkuk and southern districts, and many villages and towns of Diyala in the east after 2003.

Baghdad recently secured Mosul's Makhmur, Hamdaniya, Tel Keyf, Sinjar, Seyhan and Rabia districts; Kirkuk's Daquq, Tuz Khurmatu; Diyala's Khanaqin, Jalawla, Mandali, Bedre districts. Iraqi forces replaced the KRG flag with the Iraqi flag.

* Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara