The Kurdish National Council (KNC) called on Saturday for “serious dialogue” with the Syrian government to secure a just settlement to the Kurdish issue and to shape the future Syrian state. In a statement released to the press the Council underscored the importance of building a “pluralistic system” that “reflects all components of Syrian society,” stressing that the Kurdish people have long contributed to political life despite decades of marginalization.
The KNC confirmed that it had received an invitation earlier this month to meet with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus. The agenda, according to a Council source, will focus on Kurdish rights and national demands. The meeting, which will also involve Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, is expected to bring together 15 KNC leaders, though no date has yet been set.
March Agreement with SDF Faces Hurdles
The pending dialogue comes against the backdrop of the March 10 agreement signed between Sharaa and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi. The deal recognized the Kurdish community as an “authentic society” within Syria, guaranteed constitutional rights, and included provisions to integrate SDF civilian and military structures into state institutions, including control of border crossings and energy fields.
Sharaa acknowledged in a September 12 interview with the Al-Ikhbariyah that progress had slowed. He said Damascus still aims to implement the agreement by year’s end but described “a kind of disruption” in the process.
International developments have complicated implementation. The National reported that Damascus’ deployment of security forces during clashes in Suwayda shifted momentum in favor of the SDF, while meetings between US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper and Abdi last week underscored Washington’s ongoing role. The US maintains roughly 2,000 troops in SDF-held areas, a presence Western diplomats say reflects concerns over the resurgence of ISIS remnants.
Damascus Pushes Back Against Decentralization
Syrian officials, meanwhile, have hardened their stance on decentralization. Foreign Minister Shaibani recently refused to discuss terms beyond the dissolution of the SDF, despite earlier provisions guaranteeing local rights, according to a Kurdish source cited by The National.
Sharaa also dismissed comparisons between Syria’s northeast and Iraqi Kurdistan. Positing in his interview that “the Arab component represents more than 70% of the population” in the SDF-controled regions, saying that “thinking in any other direction only harms those who hold such ideas.”
Balancing Pressures at Home and Abroad
Internal Kurdish divisions have further complicated talks. While the KNC has positioned itself as a partner in negotiations, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) has warned against any return to centralized governance. Saleh Muslim, a senior PYD figure, said this month that his movement would not accept a formula that “discards decentralization,” warning of the risk of pursuing independence if demands are rejected.
With US policy shifting, Turkey closely watching, and Damascus seeking greater backing from Russia and China, the path forward remains uncertain. The outcome of the planned KNC meeting in Damascus may prove pivotal in determining whether the March agreement evolves into integration or unravels into renewed political confrontation.
