Some Shabak politicians such as Ghazwan Hamed, the Shabak quota representative in the Ninevah provincial council and a member of the Council of Free Shabaks, agrees with Jumaa that it is in the Shabaks' interest to join the KRG, which would offer them protection and recognize their rights as citizens.
Some other Shabak politicians believe the Shabaks should remain under the authority of the federal government. Hunain Qaddo, the secretary-general of the Democratic Shabak Assembly, told Al-Monitor that other views only aim to divide the Shabaks. He said, "The Kurdistan Democratic Party [KDP] is working hard to take over the regions of the Ninevah plains in any way — including trying to change the identity of the indigenous minorities — due to the economic importance of Ninevah province and its oil reserves, in addition to the fertile agricultural lands of the Shabaks. The KDP also wants to establish a buffer zone between Arabs and Kurds to set the stage for declaring the Kurdish state."
Qaddo suggested forming a province in the Ninevah plains that would be affiliated with the federal government, which would provide security and stability. "The province would have a special administration allowing the Shabaks to manage their affairs independently," he said.
Independent Shabak politician Qusay Abbas, who was a member of the Ninevah provincial council from 2009 to 2013, is trying to balance the different views.
"I believe most Shabaks question the seriousness of any party in recognizing them and their rights. We cannot say the Shabaks have interest in favoring one party over the other. They advocate those who respect and recognize their rights. And, both parties [Baghdad and Erbil] are slackening in this regard."
Abbas told Al-Monitor that it is important for Shabaks to participate in liberating their regions. He said the state must recognize armed factions of minorities whose lands have fallen into the hands of IS.
The bigger picture seems much more complicated, as there are two armed Shabak units, and their militarization has caused a clear and deep rift among them. One of the units is affiliated with the Kurdish peshmerga, while the other fights under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), which is affiliated with the federal government.
Jumaa pointed out that Shabak fighters in peshmerga ranks number about 655 and will play an effective role in liberating the land. The fighters are equipped with heavy and light weapons, he said, citing sources in the Peshmerga Ministry.
Qaddo said there are 900 Shabak fighters in the battalion fighting under the PMU against IS. The PMU is supplying the battalion with light and medium weapons, and he expects it to advance to participate in the liberation of Hawija (30 miles south of Kirkuk) and Sharqat (in northern Salahuddin province). He said the battalion will participate in liberating Ninevah province with other Iraqi security forces.
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