Kurdish position in Syria's future remains uncertain

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syrian Kurds urge Kurdish political parties to be united to secure their places in the new Syria. 

Turkey-backed militants have intensified their attacks on Kurdish forces in northern Syria since the regime’s collapse earlier this month.

"We want to see Kurdish unity to establish a good settlement with the new government. God willing, good will come for them. We see Turkey's involvement in the Kurdish issue. I believe it is imperative for the Syrians to be engaged in talks among themselves in order to reach a result," Bassam Matini,  a Kurdish resident of Damascus, told Rudaw earlier this week. 

There are ongoing efforts to resume intra-Kurdish talks between Kurdish ruling and opposition parties in northeast Syria (Rojava).

The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), an umbrella group of Kurdish opposition parties in Rojava, has been in constant rivalry with the ruling People's Democratic Party (PYD) over maintaining influence in Rojava.

Mazloum Abdi, chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), held a meeting with the ENKS in recent days to pave the way for the resumption of ENKS-PYD meetings. 

Abdul-Hakim Bashar is an ENKS representative. He told Rudaw in Damascus that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) intervenes in Rojava affairs. 

"The decision is not in the hands of Rojava. It is in the hands of Qandil," he said referring to a mountain in the Kurdistan Region where the PKK is believed to be headquartered. 

"Do not expect us to be united unless Qandil takes its hands off Rojava. From the first day, we demanded unity and now we want the same. This unity must be based on principles, such as what they want for the rights of Kurds. Until now, it is not clear. They want a democratic nation. We want the rights of the Kurdish nation; we want a federal Syria where Kurds have self-rule," he added.