Iran Pressures Talabani to Terms of Agreement with Islamic Groups
 

( The Kurdistan Observer) Oct 20, 2001. A Kurdish source in Southern Kurdistan told the
Kurdistan Observer today that in a meeting held a few days ago between the PUK leader
Jalal Talabani and a high ranking Iranian government official, the Iranian government
strongly denied claims made by the PUK suggesting that the Jund Al-Islam is linked to and
funded by Bin Laden’s organization.

The Iranian officials charged that these suggestions were baseless allegations that had been
fabricated by Israeli agents.

Last month, Jund Al-Islam, an organization founded by extremists from the Islamic
Movement of Kurdistan (IMK) and from the Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG), ambushed a
unit of PUK forces in Hawraman areas, resulting in many casualties including the killing of
some 40 PUK members following their capture.

In retaliation, the PUK deployed their elite troops to Halabja areas, declaring war against
Jund Al-Islam, the IMK, and the KIG.  Consequently, the PUK forces took control of
Halabja and its surrounding areas following the defeat of the Islamic groups.

Subsequently, Iran succeeded, after placing pressure on the PUK leadership, in convening a
meeting between Jalal Talabani and the Islamic groups in the city of Qasri Shireen in
Eastern Kurdistan.

According to the source, the Iranian officials persuaded Talabani to agree on their terms that
called for the return of the Islamic parties, the IMK and KIG, to Halabja, and giving in
return the PUK a symbolic presence in that region.

As to Jund Al-Islam, the Iranian officials asked the group to dismantle their organization and
rejoin their parent parties of the IMK and KIG.
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