A high-level meeting in Qamishli underlined need for Kurdish unity, collaboration, and protection of Kurdish accomplishments within Syria’s political environment and regional complexity
Visiting Qamishli, a delegation representing President Masoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) engaged in key conversations with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi and other well-known Kurdish figures. The meeting underlined the need of Kurdish unity and collaboration amid Syria’s unstable moment of transition.
Lead by Dr. Hamid Darbandi, President Barzani’s envoy for Syria and Rojava portfolio, the delegation included Darbandi visited Mazloum Abdi at stops in Hasakah and Qamishli to transmit a message from President Barzani stressing the importance of cooperation among Kurds to face continuous difficulties and guarantee the safeguarding of Kurdish victories in Syria.
Barzani’s advice: Resolve and Unite
Sources close to the meeting said that Darbandi underlined President Barzani’s dedication to Kurdish unity and voiced strong worries about the present political and security issues in Syria. The source said “President Barzani’s message stressed the urgency of standing united as a Kurdish house and collectively addressing the crises and uncertainty of the Syrian landscape.”
In response, Mazloum Abdi stressed the need for coordinated efforts among Kurdish groups and expressed thanks for Barzani’s constant support of Kurdish issues. “The current phase in Syria requires the communal efforts of all Kurdish sides to protect the rights and achievements of the Kurdish people,” Abdi said.
Political experts commend strategic visits
The visit has attracted a lot of interest as political experts saw it as a major step towards Kurdish unity. Nuri Brimo, Kurdish politician and analyst, underlined the wider consequences of the meeting while speaking with The Kurdish Globe, saying: “Any intra-Kurdish conversation undertaken with sincerity would surely generate favorable results, especially given Syria’s very sensitive and transforming time. Kurds must actively help to shape the new Syria thereby guaranteeing their proper representation. Kurds must present a cohesive vision, voice, and attitude. Representing the rights of all Kurds and pushing for a non-centralized government—perhaps a federal model—a Kurdish delegation headed to Damascus must reflect these values.”
Brimo underlined even more President Barzani’s important contribution to Kurdish unity by saying: “Dr. Hamid Darbandi’s visit to Qamishli highlights President Barzani’s continuous dedication to Kurdish unity. Barzani has long urged Syrian Kurdish unity, and this visit sends a strong message to allies and adversaries equally. It shows that while internal strife among Kurds may persist, President Barzani can be very decisive and uniting when unity is needed.”
An all-encompassing approach for Kurdish unity
Political pundit Sherwan Shmerani reflected similar feelings and underlined the visit’s strategic significance. “This visit is essential for Qamishli and fits the larger plan of the Kurdistan Region toward Syria. Although various intra-Kurdish talks have occurred in Erbil, the direct involvement of President Barzani’s envoy in Qamishli is very essential for reducing internal conflicts among the Kurdish groups.”
Shmerani further underlined the visit’s symbolic meaning: “The visit serves more than only a diplomatic symbol. It shows a real attempt to settle long-standing conflicts and normalize interactions between competing Kurdish communities. This phase could open the path for the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Kurdish National Council (KNC) to heal their divide; past negotiations between them have usually not produced any real outcomes.”
Forthcoming activities
Darbandi also met with Kurdish National Council (KNC) leadership as part of his mission. This meeting aimed to further debates on harmonizing Kurdish ranks and promoting mutual understanding throughout the political spectrum of the Kurds.
The visit emphasized the KDP’s ongoing attempts to serve as a bridge between Kurdish groups in Syria, therefore fostering cooperation and supporting the defense of Kurdish interests within the general instability in the area.
With the stakes greater than ever, the message of unity given by President Barzani’s envoy resonates throughout Kurdish communities in Syria and abroad, indicating a fresh drive for togetherness during these vital times.