Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat— The Syria-based Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) denied accusations of having strong ties with the Syrian government, and told Asharq Al-Awsat that it is still determined to “liberate the Kurdish parts of Syria and establish a federation with a local Kurdish administration.”
The PYD came under harsh criticism following a recent visit by the Syrian Defense Minister Fahd Jassem Al-Freij’s to the PYD-held city of Qamishli, northern Syria. Freij was said to have secretly met with PYD leaders.
Speaking exclusively to Asharq Al-Awsat a senior PYD leader, Ja’afar Akash, said that the accusations are “baseless.”