Kurdish Community in Middle East

Prelims - Current events of National & International importance

Why in News?

India has a greater responsibility to support the peace agreement between the Turkish government and Kurdish militants.

Kurdish Geography

• Location
  • Kurdistan is a region defined by its geographical and cultural identity of its people, which remains unrecognized as a sovereign state.
  • Sharing countries - It spread across Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Armenia.
• Landscape
  • Mountains - It encompasses the Zagros Mountain range and the eastern stretches of the Taurus Mountains.
  • Rivers - The Tigris and Greater Zab Rivers traverse this region, sustaining agriculture and human settlements.

Kurdish Identity

• Kurdish communities across the 4 regions of Kurdistan each contribute unique elements to a vibrant and enduring Kurdish identity.
• This diversity is evident in their various linguistic dialects, including Kurmanji, Sorani, and Pehlewani.
• The religious landscape is equally rich, encompassing Islam, Judaism, Yezidism, Christianity, Alevism, and Zoroastrianism.
• Culturally, the distinct traditions, music, dance, and cuisine of each Kurdish area underscore both their individuality and shared heritage.

Kurdish-Indian Relations

• Language – Many Indo-European languages, including Kurdish and Sanskrit, share a common linguistic heritage dating back thousands of years.
• Consulate in Erbil - In August 2016, India opened a consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, to strengthen its economic and trade relations with the country.
• Trade and Cooperation
  •  A growing number of Indian enterprises have engaged in trade fairs and exhibitions across Erbil and Sulaymaniyah over the past few years.
  • MEDICO is the First and Largest International Health Exhibition in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. 
  • Many ceramics and marble supplying companies are actively doing business in Kurdistan and Iraq. 
• Kurdish Referendum - In 2017, India’s position on the Referendum held in the Kurdistan Region remain committed to a stable, peaceful, democratic and a united Iraq that is able to settle its internal affairs amicably through peaceful process of dialogue and other constitutional means.
• Workers’ relations - Indian workers are increasingly employed in the Kurdistan region's steel, oil, and construction sectors, where their contributions are highly valued.

Reference

The Hindu| India’s Responsibility on Kurdish Agreement