Kurd-Arab Council Readies For Talks With Syria Regime
Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published July 17, 2018 | 12:53 AM
The political arm of a powerful alliance of Syrian Kurd and Arab fighters said Monday it was working on a negotiating team for any talks with the Damascus regime.
Tabqa, Syria, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jul, 2018 ) :The political arm of a powerful alliance of Syrian Kurd and Arab fighters said Monday it was working on a negotiating team for any talks with the Damascus regime.
The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) is linked to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed militia that holds much of the country's north and northeast.
Those areas are outside regime control, and are mostly managed by autonomous Kurdish-run administrations that the regime sees as a challenge to its authority.
On Monday, the SDC gathered in the northern town of Tabqa for a two-day meeting that included Kurdish officials and members of Syria's tolerated domestic opposition.
"One of the meeting's aims is to create a platform to negotiate with the Syrian regime," leading SDC member Hekmat Habib told AFP.
"This platform will represent all areas in the autonomous administration and all areas held by the SDF," he said, without providing further details.
After long being marginalised, Syria's Kurds have largely stayed out of the country's seven-year civil war, instead focusing on building their own institutions.
With Russian backing, regime forces have retaken control of large swathes of Syria since 2015, and now hold sway over more than 60 percent of Syrian territory.
But the SDF still control just under a third of the country including key oil fields, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group monitoring the war.
Much of the land under SDF control, including Tabqa and the nearby northern city of Raqa, was captured during a US-backed offensive against the Islamic State jihadist group.
In June, the SDC said it was ready for "unconditional talks" with President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
That came after the president the previous month warned he would use force if talks failed to take back land they controlled.
Several days later, a delegation from Syria's tolerated domestic opposition made a rare visit to the northeastern city of Qamishli, most of which is held by Kurdish forces linked to the SDF.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
Putin says plans to visit China in May
More Stories From World
-
Slot 'confident' of Liverpool job as 'negotiations' take place
55 minutes ago -
Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company
1 hour ago -
WADA asks 'independent prosecutor' to examine Chinese swimmers case
1 hour ago -
New York court overturns Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction
1 hour ago -
Bagnaia and Spanish rivals chase victory at Jerez
3 hours ago -
Russian, Ukrainian strikes kill at least 10 in frontline regions
3 hours ago
-
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
3 hours ago -
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
3 hours ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
4 hours ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
4 hours ago -
US reinstates open internet rules rescinded under Trump
4 hours ago -
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
4 hours ago