Why in the News?

India has dispatched a humanitarian aid consignment to the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Kurdistan Region

What is the Kurdistan Region?

The Kurdistan Region refers to areas inhabited by ethnic Kurds, primarily in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) administers Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq.
The Kurds, a distinct ethnic and linguistic group, have long sought independence and greater autonomy.
Geographical Significance:
- Spans across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, covering the Zagros Mountains and fertile plains.
- Rich in oil and natural gas, particularly in Iraqi Kurdistan, making it geopolitically significant.
- Controls key border regions and trade routes, influencing regional stability.
Political Implications:
- The Kurdish struggle for autonomy has led to tensions with central governments, particularly in Iraq and Turkey.
- Kurdish forces (Peshmerga) have played a key role in fighting ISIS and maintaining security in northern Iraq.
- The KRG has diplomatic ties with Western countries but lacks full sovereignty.

The Kurdish independence movement faces opposition from Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria, fearing territorial fragmentation.
Iraq rejected the 2017 Kurdistan independence referendum, leading to military and economic retaliation.
Turkey continues military operations against Kurdish groups, considering them a security threat.
The Turkey-ISIS-Kurd relationship remains controversial, with allegations that Turkey indirectly enabled ISIS against the Kurds.

[2018] The term “two-state solution” is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of:

(a) China

(b) Israel

(d) Yemen