The Iraqi government declared that it would provide weapons and salary to the members of a widely recognized terrorist organization increasing criticism over Baghdad's support to terror groups.
The PKK, a listed terror group to Turkey, European Union and the United States, has recently gained official support from Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi.
Baghdad would provide support to the terror group by using a newly approved controversial resolution on legitimizing Shi'ite Hashd Shaabi, another armed organization that spread violence among Sunni people.
The move is seen a step against the northern Iraqi Regional Government (KRG), which has been experiencing a drift in relations with Baghdad.
According to local media report, KRG President Masoud Barzani urged Abadi to sign a deal recognizing KRG as an independent state.
Both leaders agreed during Barzani's meeting with Abadi in Baghdad prior to the start of Mosul offensive to discuss the independence of KRG once Mosul was liberated from Daesh.
But the legalizing of the PKK terrorists and providing them financial and arms support could be a strategic step by Bagdad, as KRG has a negative view on the terror group.
The announcement comes when KRG is facing tremendous financial crisis and seeking help to pay its civil servants.
By giving financial support to PKK terrorist in Sinjar and Kirkuk, Abadi aims to attract Kurdish youths in the region to the terror group forming a force against KRG-bound Peshmerga.
According to Iraq's Defense Ministry officials, who spoke to Yeni Şafak under the condition of anonymity, Baghdad is planning a budget of $22 million for 2017.
The budget includes, 8,000 military infantry gun, 400 medium altitude weapons and a certain number of vehicles to be used in rural areas.
All this support would be provided to YŞB, a PKK affiliated group disguised under a different name in Sinjar.
Reports also claimed that Cemal Bayık, the so-called co-leader of the Group Communities in Kurdistan (KCK), an umbrella group for the PKK, asked the commander of the Iranian Quds Brigade, Qasim Sulaimani, for financial and military support in their last meeting in Sulaymaniyah province.
An agreement on the issue was reportedly signed in the meeting as both Bayık and Sulaimani agreed to support the Tehran-influenced Baghdad administration and Shi'ite Hashd al Shaabi militia group.
Moreover, an Iraqi defense ministry delegate held a 7-hour-long meeting with PKK / YBŞ representatives in the Tal Afar military base on Monday, sources told Yeni Şafak.
Some top figures from Shi'ite Hashd Shaabi also joined the meeting that concluded with a deal on a joint move in northern Iraq.
The first phase of logistic support to PKK /YŞB would be delivered on December 12 through Tal Afar military airport, which was captured by the Shaabi group in recent days.
They also agreed that the 1,200-strong YŞB group, each of whom receive a $580 monthly salary from Baghdad, would be increased to 2,100 elements.
The source also revealed that PKK and Iran are in talks to form a military force for PKK in Iraq, disguised under a different name and equipped by Hashd Shaabi. The force will be formed under the pretext of Mosul operation and it will be stationed in the areas under the influence of Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
PKK terrorists and their bases in Kirkuk province are significantly snowballing with the knowledge of the administration of the province and the permission of Baghdad, the source said, noting that after Baghdad failed to deploy Hashd al-Shaabi militia in Kirkuk during the latest Daesh attack on the city, many PKK terrorists were deployed in the city to fight back against Daesh.
However, the PKK did not retreat its terrorists from the city after the attack; they rather opened bases and stayed there.
Military sources said it would be difficult to provide weapons to PKK in Kirkuk, so the government would use Shaabi group as mediator to supply weapons to the terrorists.
It also noted that the group would not get registered weapons come directly from foreign states under serial numbers. But it get arms without serial numbers from Iraqi government stock.
Shakhawan Abdullah, a Kurdish lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament, said that the PKK can officially receive support from Baghdad according to the Hashd Law if the prime minister's approval is secured.
"PKK has increased its military in Kirkuk and is being supported by an Iraqi political side," he said, noting that the forces are receiving financial support from Baghdad.
Abdullah noted that an Iraqi political side may be attempting to financially attract young people from Kirkuk to join PKK, in order to constitute a major predicament for re-annexing Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region in the long run.
He added that Baghdad is currently providing the PKK terrorists with military and financial support unofficially; therefore, it is expected to find a legal way to officially support them.
