Hassan Sharafi, the deputy leader of PDKI, answered a number of important questions regarding PDKI\u2019s policies in a recent interview with the Kurdish media outlet Rudaw. PDKI\u2019s new strategy of continuing and reinvigorating the party\u2019s decades-long struggle in pursuit of the liberation of the Kurdish nation gives priority to the party\u2019s Peshmerga Forces, Sharafi explained.<\/p>\n
Asked whether current conditions are conducive to a reinvigorated struggle in eastern (Iranian) Kurdistan, Sharafi said that \u201cinstead of an anticipatory posture, we have acted proactively in order to create such conditions in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to some criticism of the party\u2019s proactive strategy, Sharafi said that \u201cwaiting until all Kurdish organizations unite [\u2026] or until defense lines are fortified and all logistical means are available would be tantamount to never.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sharafi further expounded in the interview with Rudaw that PDKI halted its armed struggle for the past two decades out of consideration for the security and well-being of southern (Iraqi) Kurdistan.<\/p>\n
When southern Kurdistan gained its de facto autonomy following the Gulf War in 1991, Iran constituted a constant threat to this part of Kurdistan. Whenever Iran\u2019s armed forces suffered heavy losses with PDKI\u2019s Peshmerga Forces, the Islamist regime acted aggressively toward southern Kurdistan, especially by shelling civilian populated areas.<\/p>\n
Eventually, PDKI decided to halt its armed struggle against the Islamic Republic of Iran due to the fact that southern Kurdistan was in a vulnerable position. Sharafi and other leaders of PDKI have pointed to the fact that southern Kurdistan is now in a much stronger position, internally as well as internationally.<\/p>\n
Sharafi therefore emphasized that \u201cthere has to be a time limit to how long we can halt some parts of our struggle out of consideration for southern Kurdistan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sharafi also highlighted the fact that irrespective of the nature of PDKI\u2019s struggle, Iran is bent on undermining southern Kurdistan even though Iranian officials falsely claim to have \u201cgood relations\u201d with the Kurdish government in Hawler (Erbil). As a case in point, Sharafi cited recent Iranian threats to \u201cturn the whole Middle East upside down\u201d in response to southern Kurdistan\u2019s plan to hold a referendum on independence.<\/p>\n
Sharafi further explained that PDKI has not deployed its Peshmerga Forces to eastern Kurdistan with the intention of carrying out combat missions. PDKI\u2019s Peshmerga Forces escort the party\u2019s officials when they carry out political missions among the population of eastern Kurdistan. PDKI has thus introduced a new model of carrying out political activities under authoritarian rule. Iran arrests, imprisons, tortures and executes Kurdish political activists.<\/p>\n
The Iranian regime does not tolerate the presence of PDKI\u2019s officials and Peshmerga Forces in eastern Kurdistan and has ordered its armed forces to attack them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThus far we have adopted a defensive posture in the face of such attacks\u201d, Sharafi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if the Iranian regime continues to attack our officials and Peshmergas and carries out its recent threats [of attacking civilians], then we will not hesitate to change our defensive posture\u201d, Sharafi averred.<\/p>\n