What Happened
- Following US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran beginning 28 February 2026 that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials, the US explored using Kurdish armed groups as ground forces for operations in western Iran
- US President Trump offered "extensive US air cover" and other support to anti-regime Iranian Kurdish groups to seize portions of western Iran, telling Kurdish leaders they must choose "either with America and Israel or with Iran"
- The strategy reportedly originated with Israeli PM Netanyahu and Mossad, with the CIA later joining the effort; around one-fifth of all US-Israeli airstrikes targeted Kurdish-majority provinces in western Iran (Kermanshah, Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, Ilam, Lorestan)
- The plan ultimately collapsed due to media leaks, lobbying by allies, and wariness among Kurdish groups themselves about being used as proxies without long-term commitments
- The episode highlights the recurring pattern of great-power use of Kurdish aspirations for self-determination as a geopolitical lever, often followed by abandonment
Static Topic Bridges
The Kurdish Question — World's Largest Stateless Nation
The Kurds are an ethno-linguistic group of 30–45 million people spread across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria — often described as the world's largest stateless nation. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Treaty of Sevres (1920) promised a Kurdish state, but the Treaty of Lausanne (1923) replaced it, dividing Kurdish-inhabited areas among the newly drawn national borders. Kurdish identity, language, and political aspirations have since been a persistent source of conflict in West Asia.
- Population distribution: Turkey (~15 million, 18–25% of population), Iraq (~6–7 million, ~17%), Iran (~6.5–7.9 million, 7–10%), Syria (~2–3 million, ~9%)
- Major political/armed groups in Iran: KDPI (Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, oldest Kurdish party in Iran), PJAK (Kurdistan Free Life Party, linked to PKK ideology), Komala, PAK (Kurdistan Freedom Party)
- Iraqi Kurdistan has an autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) since 1992, with Erbil as capital
- In Syria, Kurdish YPG/SDF forces control significant territory in the northeast and were key US allies against ISIS
- The PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) has fought an insurgency in Turkey since 1984 and is designated a terrorist organisation by the US, EU, and Turkey
Connection to this news: The US attempt to mobilise Iranian Kurdish groups against Tehran follows the same historical pattern — leveraging Kurdish self-determination aspirations for strategic objectives, as seen with US-Kurdish cooperation against ISIS in Syria (2014–2019) and earlier covert support during the Iran-Iraq War.
India's Position on the West Asia Crisis and Strategic Balancing
India has historically maintained a policy of strategic autonomy in West Asia, balancing relationships with Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the US simultaneously. India's West Asia policy is driven by energy security (India imports ~85% of its crude oil, with ~60% from the Gulf), diaspora welfare (~8.9 million Indians in the Gulf), and remittances (~$35 billion annually from the Gulf region). India has traditionally avoided taking sides in regional conflicts while maintaining bilateral ties with all parties.
- India-Iran: Chabahar Port agreement (2024 operational pact), INSTC corridor, historical civilisational ties; bilateral trade ~$1.68 billion in FY 2024-25
- India-Israel: Strategic partnership since 1992; defence cooperation worth ~$1 billion annually; India is Israel's largest arms buyer in Asia
- India-Saudi Arabia/UAE: Strategic partnership councils established; India-UAE CEPA (2022); India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council (2019)
- India's position: Called for de-escalation and dialogue; neither condemned nor endorsed the strikes; invoked principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity
Connection to this news: The US-Kurdish-Iran dynamic directly impacts India's interests — any instability in western Iran threatens the INSTC corridor and Chabahar Port, while escalation in the Strait of Hormuz region risks India's energy security and Gulf diaspora safety.
Strait of Hormuz — Global Energy Chokepoint
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is the world's most important oil transit chokepoint, with approximately 20 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude oil and oil products shipped through it in 2025 — roughly 25% of the world's seaborne oil trade and about 20% of total global petroleum consumption.
- Width at narrowest point: ~33 km (21 miles); shipping lanes are only about 3 km wide in each direction
- 84% of crude transiting the Strait goes to Asian markets — China, India, Japan, and South Korea account for 69% of all flows
- Nearly 20% of global LNG trade also transits the Strait (primarily Qatar and UAE exports)
- Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait during periods of tension
- Alternative bypass pipelines (Saudi East-West Pipeline, UAE Habshan-Fujairah Pipeline) can handle only ~6.5 mb/d combined — far below total transit volumes
Connection to this news: Military operations in Iran and the broader West Asia conflict create direct risks to Strait of Hormuz shipping. Any disruption would trigger global oil price spikes, disproportionately affecting India, which imports ~60% of its crude oil through this chokepoint.
Key Facts & Data
- US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran began: 28 February 2026
- Kurdish population globally: 30–45 million across four countries (Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria)
- Iranian Kurdish provinces targeted: Kermanshah, Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, Ilam, Lorestan
- Strait of Hormuz daily oil transit: ~20 million barrels per day (~25% of seaborne oil trade)
- India's crude oil import dependence: ~85%; ~60% sourced from the Gulf region
- Indian diaspora in the Gulf: ~8.9 million; remittances: ~$35 billion annually
- Treaty of Sevres (1920) promised Kurdish statehood; Treaty of Lausanne (1923) negated it