PJAK has significantly expanded its tunnel networks in the Penjwen area of Sulaimani, located very close to the Iranian border, with IRGC watchtowers visible just a few hundred meters away. This development, observed in tunnels filmed a week ago, places Penjwen as PJAK's new headquarters. The expansion suggests a strong connection between PJAK and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a dominant political force in Sulaimani, given Penjwen's strategic location and PUK's stronghold status. PJAK's presence now extends from the southern Qandil range across the Asos mountains and Mawat region, with confirmed existing tunnels and ongoing digging of new ones. The Kurdistan Watch X account highlighted this situation, noting that while discussions around PKK disarmament in Turkey and the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria are ongoing, PJAK, identified as the Iranian branch of the PKK, has been reinforcing its positions in Sulaimani along the Iran border. This includes the construction of new tunnel systems and an increase in fighter recruitment, according to the report.
