U.S Withdrawal from Afghanistan Raises Fears Among Kurds
September 26, 2021, 8:15 am

U.S Withdrawal from Afghanistan Raises Fears Among Kurds

Jwan Dibo

The abrupt US pullout from Afghanistan has raised fears among the Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan and Syrian Kurdistan that the same scenario could be repeated in their areas, which could have catastrophic repercussions.

The two questions that come to mind, in this context, are: First, what are the reasons behind the Kurds' panic over a potential US departure from Iraq and Syria? Second, what are possible outcomes of the US exit from Iraq and Syria on the Kurds?

The ability of the Kurds to obtain some of their rights in Iraq and Syria has historically been linked to the US presence in both countries. The Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan were able to establish their own autonomous region after the second Gulf War in 1991. This happened when the US and its Western allies established a humanitarian no-fly zone in Iraqi Kurdistan under UN Resolution 688 issued in 1991.

This posture developed in 2003 when the US overthrew the Baathist regime in Baghdad and the Kurdistan region became an official federation under the new Iraqi constitution in 2005. The US-Kurdish relations boosted in Iraqi Kurdistan in conjunction with the emergence of ISIS/ISIL in 2014. The Kurdish fighters in Iraqi Kurdistan, i.e. Peshmerga, were considered one of the most relied upon by Washington to defeat ISIS.

US-Kurdish cooperation has also included Kurdish fighters in Syria known as the People's Protection Units (YPG), who were spearheading the fighting against ISIS in Syria. This, in turn, enabled the Kurds in Syria to establish a self-proclaimed administration since 2014 in Syrian Kurdistan.

The distinguished US-Kurdish ties throughout the ISIS crisis made the countries that divide Kurdistan accuse Washington of adopting an agenda aimed at dividing the region and forming a Kurdish state whose borders extend to the Mediterranean. This is what made these countries, especially, Turkey and Iran, to embrace pre-emptive policies to confront Kurdish aspirations for getting rights including independence.

On this basis, Turkey occupied the cities of Afrin in 2018, and Serê Kaniyê (Ras al-Ain) and Gire Spi (Tell Abyad) in 2019 in Syrian Kurdistan. Also, Baghdad, Tehran and Ankara together aborted the results of the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan in September 2017, which were overwhelmingly in favour of the independence of Kurdistan. In both cases, the US abandoned the Kurds, who were Washington's close partners.

The Kurds are concerned that any US withdrawal from Iraq and Syria will encourage the governments of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria to undermine the Kurdish gains in Iraqi Kurdistan and Syrian Kurdistan. Consequently, the Kurds will return to zero and square one. Additionally, the Kurds are worried that the quadripartite revenge by the governments of these countries will not only eliminate their tangible gains on the ground, but will, also, affect their existence as a nation.

The governments of these countries have acted aggressively with the Kurds at the height of the American presence in Iraq and Syria, so, how will they deal with them if the US withdraws from both countries?

Undoubtedly, the Kurds in Iraq and Syria are the only losers from any possible US withdrawal from both countries. The reason is that the Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan and Syrian Kurdistan were historically able to obtain some of their rights in conjunction with the American presence in both countries. This is after the refusal of all the successive regimes in Baghdad and Damascus, since the middle of the last century until the present, to give the Kurds their rights voluntarily and democratically.

Thus, any random and disorderly US withdrawal from Iraq and Syria would have disastrous consequences for the Kurds. The reason is that this time, local and regional retaliation against them would not only destroy their present gains but might also threaten their existence as a people and a nation.

by: Jwan Dibo

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.