Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region are scheduled for unification under the command of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Peshmerga ministry by 2026, a senior ministry official confirmed on Sunday. This announcement comes as PJAK, identified as the Iranian branch of the PKK, continues to expand its tunnel networks near the Iranian border in the Penjwen area. The unification plan aims to consolidate the region's security forces, bringing them under a single ministerial command. This development follows reports over the past week detailing PJAK's significant expansion of tunnel infrastructure in Penjwen, a region now considered PJAK's new headquarters, with IRGC watchtowers observed nearby. The Kurdistan Watch X account previously highlighted PJAK's reinforcement of positions along the Iran border, including new tunnel construction and increased fighter recruitment. The senior ministry official's statement was made to Rudaw English on Sunday, providing a timeline for the Peshmerga unification. The strategic location of Penjwen, which serves as PJAK's new base, suggests a potential connection with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), given the PUK's influence in the Sulaimani province where Penjwen is located. PJAK's operational reach now spans from the southern Qandil range across the Asos mountains and Mawat region, encompassing both existing and newly dug tunnel systems.
