"We are not in favor of violence," KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee told Al-Monitor. "Turkey has neither taken our opinion [on the renewed conflict with the PKK] nor has it informed us about what it is doing."
Dizayee also lashed out at PKK leaders in the Qandil Mountains of northern Iraq for "disrupting the cease-fire" with Turkey, referring to the alleged killing of two Turkish policemen in July.
"We encourage dialogue to resolve the issues. We can assist with that as in the past we managed to convince the PKK to give up violence," Dizayee added.
Despite nearly four months of fighting, the PKK declared a unilateral cease-fire Oct. 12 so that the polls could be conducted in a more favorable climate. But after Ankara struck PKK positions following the elections, the Kurdish fighters also ended the cease-fire, launching attacks on military targets inside Turkish territory.
"Our unilateral cease-fire will not produce any positive outcomes as far as resolving the Kurdish question is concerned, and we do not see a serious effort or position from Turkish authorities toward resolving the Kurdish question in Turkey," the PKK said in a statement.
There is a lot at stake for Iraqi Kurds if the conflict between Turkey and the PKK escalates and extends into KRG territory.
Relations between Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey have improved dramatically in recent years. While as recently as 2008 Turkey made threats against KRG authorities for the PKK's presence on Iraqi Kurdish soil, now Turkey is the main route for KRG oil exports and its major trade partner.
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