The text opens with a description of Turkey’s recent military initiative, Operation Peace Spring, launched against the Syrian Kurdish militia (YPG) in Northeast Syria. This occurred shortly after the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from the area. Previously, the YPG had been an ally of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State. However, when the U.S. troops withdrew, Turkey seized the opportunity to initiate an attack. Turkey declares that this operation aims to eradicate the “terror corridor” along its southern border and establish a “safe zone”. Turkey has plans for resettling the millions of refugees currently residing within its borders into this safe zone. There is widespread concern among world leaders that this could escalate the ongoing conflict in Syria and contribute to increasing instability in the region. It also provides an opening for the Islamic State to re-establish itself, which could further exacerbate the tumultuous situation in the Middle East.
The Position of Syria
Syria has condemned Turkey’s incursion as an act of aggression. The Syrian government is intent on maintaining the territorial integrity of the country. The Kurdish population in Syria has long demanded a separate nation state for themselves. However, Syria consistently declines these demands, rejecting any proposal for Kurdish autonomy within its region. Syria opposes the establishment of federal governments within its borders. On the other hand, Turkey wants to establish a buffer zone between Syrian Kurdistan and the Turkish border, intending to use this area for the resettlement of millions of Syrian refugees currently in Turkey.
Turkey’s Perspective
Turkey perceives the Syrian Kurdish militia as a branch of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey, labeling it as a threat. Turkey envisions a buffer zone separating Syrian Kurdistan and the Turkish border. Moreover, Turkey has expressed plans to move some of the 3 million Syrian refugees it presently hosts into this buffer zone.
India’s Response
India has voiced strong disapproval over Turkey’s military incursion into Syria, terming it as unilateral and offensive. India has urged Turkey to exercise restraint while urging the respect of Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Kurds:
Who are they?
Kurds are native to the plains and highlands of Mesopotamia. This region extends across parts of modern-day southeast Turkey, northeastern Syria, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and southwestern Armenia. Despite having no standard dialect, they form a unique community linked through race, culture, and language. Although they follow various religions and beliefs, the majority of Kurds are Sunni Muslims. In the early 20th century, the idea of creating a homeland, generally referred to as “Kurdistan”, began to gain favor among many Kurds. However, current borders in the Middle East have not recognized such a Kurdish state, reducing Kurds to minority status in the respective countries they inhabit.
| Region | Population of Kurds |
|---|---|
| Turkey | 14-20 million |
| Syria | 2 million |
| Iraq | 6-7 million |
| Iran | 5-7 million |
| Armenia | 40,000-70,000 |
The Kurdish Demand
Kurds from Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran have been clamoring for recognition of their culture, language, and for the establishment of a homeland state. They envision this state as being constituted from parts of each country where they currently reside: southeastern Turkey, northeastern Syria, northern Iraq, and northwestern Iran.
