Printer-friendly VersionThe Kurdish Globe
Iraq summoned Iran's ambassador to condemn Iranian shelling of villages in the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi government said on Tuesday, warning of «negative consequences» if attacks continued.
For over a week, Iranian artillery and helicopter gunships have constantly bombed the mountainous areas of Kurdistan Region's border with Iran. As a result, hundreds of families have been displaced, although no causalities have been confirmed thus far.
Iran accuses the Party of Free Life for Iranian Kurdistan (PJAK) of taking shelter in the mountains of the Kurdistan Region and launching attacks inside Iranian territory.
"We are now discussing this matter with Iranian officials," the representative of Kurdistan Region in Iran, Nazim Omer told the Kurdish Globe, "Iran demands that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) not allow elements of PJAK to cross the border and launch attacks inside Iranian territory."
Omer warned not to allow the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and PJAK to be a source for the stirring of negative sentiments in the Kurdistan Region and to disturb the climate of safety and stability currently in place.
"PKK and PJAK should feel a sense of responsibility, and not do anything to harm the Kurdistan Region, particularly at the current time, when the region is heading toward parliamentary elections."
Nine villages have been evacuated as a result of the recent Iranian bombardment. Residents have complained that Iran shells close to their villages and far from PJAK targets.
KRG has stated that it seeking friendly relationships with Turkey and Iran but the Kurdistan region is paying a heavy price for the actions of the PKK and PJAK in Turkey and Iran respectively.
In a recent statement the KRG condemned PJAK attacks on Iran.
«These attacks by the PJAK against the Islamic Republic of Iran are in no one"s interest,» the Kurdish government said in an official statement released on Thursday. «We are the government of the region of Kurdistan, and we condemn these attacks.»
The areas where PKK and PJAK operate are largely outside the control of KRG forces. Kurdish leaders have repeatedly emphasised that the Kurdish issue in Turkey and Iran are political issues that should be solved through dialogue.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has summoned the Iranian ambassador to demand an immediate halt to the shelling of its border areas.
"On Monday (May 4) afternoon, Ambassador Taha Shokr Mahmoud al-Abbasi, the head of the Neighbouring Countries' Affairs department, summoned Iranian Ambassador Hassan Kazemi-Qomi to convey Iraq's strong protest against the Iranian armed forces' serious violations in Iraqi villages and territory," according to a ministry statement received by the Globe. The Ministry further warned of «negative consequences» if attacks continue.
The Iranian shelling came after PJAK rebels killed tens of Iranian policemen in Kurdish cities in Iranian Kurdistan.
Meanwhile Iranian news reported that ten members of PJAK were killed by Iranian forces in the attacks.