Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallstrom, said that it was time to discuss Kurdish independence and rethink Swedish foreign policy, on Friday.

Noting that there were approximately 30 million Kurds worldwide living without a united and independent country, Ms Wallstrom said,

"We as the Social Democratic Party have had a clear policy toward the case of Palestine, and I want Sweden to change its foreign policy toward the Middle East as it is the right time to discuss Kurdish independence."

"Kurds are bravely fighting the international terrorism organisation known as Islamic State (IS) and the Peshmerga is the only force which defends its people," she added.

The Peshmerga, known for their devout commitment to the Kurdish nationalist cause and regarded as well-trained, well-armed and capable, are the Iraqi kurdish military force of the Kurdish struggle for self-determination. The term Peshmerga translates to ‘those who follow death.’

Sweden is one of a number of European countries that have supported the Kurdistan region and are likely to send military advisers to train the Peshmerga forces, reports, Bas News.

Tamil Guardian