Like many Americans, the people of Kurdistan have been watching events in Afghanistan with great concern and sympathy. While there is a heated debate on the implementation of the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, we must remember the families of the American soldiers, Afghans and others who were killed in the ISIS-Khorasan terrorist attack in Kabul last week. We mourn the loss of innocent lives and wish the best to those who were injured.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has triggered a discussion on whether Washington will do the same in Iraq and if it did, would the same situation ensue. There are parallels between Iraq and Afghanistan, but also significant differences between the two countries. In Washington, there is bipartisan support for the US and Coalition to continue to support Iraqi security forces and the peshmerga in the fight against ISIS. There is also an understanding that Iraq’s security is key to the stability of the Middle East.

President Masoud Barzani issued a statement, reassuring the people of Kurdistan that there are many differences between Kurdistan and Afghanistan and their forces. Others pointed out that the US Iraq Strategic Dialogue took place only last month and the two sides agreed to US troops staying in Iraq in a noncombat role.

Yesterday, Robert Palladino, the US Consul General in Erbil, told the media, ‘The United States is staying in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region. We are on this journey with you for the long haul.’

He said, ‘What will happen at the end of this year is an end to any combat role for United States' forces, and that is the only thing that is ending. It is in the best interest of the United States and Iraq to continue our strategic partnership.’

When the US Ambassador to Iraq was asked by Kurdish journalists in early August if the US was about to withdraw from Iraq after Afghanistan, Ambassador Matthew Tueller said that President Joe Biden ‘understands the importance of Iraq, the importance of the US to Iraq, the importance of Iraq in the region.’

There were two historic events in the past few days in Baghdad and Erbil, underscoring Iraq and Kurdistan’s important role. On August 29, the Kurdistan Region welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with several high officials, including the Kurdistan Region’s President, the KRG Prime Minister, his Deputy and the Speaker of Parliament, as well as President Masoud Barzani.

The visit was surrounded by a festive atmosphere, celebrating the friendship between France and Kurdistan, dating back to the 1980s and to Operation Provide Comfort in 1991. France has been a key ally to Kurdistan over the years and remains a strong partner today in the fight against ISIS, in the same way as Britain and the United States.

President Macron had attended the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership on August 28, with leaders and foreign ministers of several regional states. The conference was welcomed by President Nechirvan Barzani, as well as President Biden, who congratulated Iraq on hosting a ‘ground-breaking’ summit. He said, ‘The United States continues to stand with our partner Iraq as we work together toward greater stability across the Middle East. We remain committed to strengthening our bilateral relationship under the Strategic Framework Agreement.’

Representative to the United States

Kurdistan Regional Government

Douglas Silliman, Washington’s former ambassador to Iraq, said there are no plans for American forces to fully withdraw from Iraq, dismissing comparisons with Afghanistan in an interview with Rudaw. Silliman said that the situation is different between Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘Stability in Iraq creates stability in the rest of the region,’ he said.