ERBIL — Kurdish prominent leader and the president of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Masoud Barzani, believes that the US military presence in Iraq is vital to stability in the country.

Barzani, who previously served as the president of Kurdistan Region, and remains a key political actor in the region, told Independent Arabic that the recent pressures intending to expel US and Coalition forces are just political bargaining chips.

The Kurdish leader, who played a key role in the war against the Islamic State, warned that the jihadist group could make a comeback if US and other members of the Global Coalition are to leave Iraq.

“I was also against the withdrawal of the US forces from Iraq in 2011… I believed that terror would spread across parts of Iraq,” Barzani said.

On the current political situation in Iraq while prime minister-designate Mohammed Allawi is working to form a new government in Baghdad, Barzani said the Kurdish approach to the matter is bound to Allawi’s understanding for the rights of Kurdistan Region.

Barzani also emphasized that the PM-designate will be challenged by the many militia forces in the country which operate outside the command of the state.

Discussing the situation in northern Syria, Barzani stressed that Washington should protect the Kurds in Syria. He explained that there were growing skepticism about the US policies towards Kurds in Syria in the wake of the recent developments, but trust between Kurds and the United States is being restored now.

BasNews