“During the meeting, both sides stressed coordination and the fight against Daesh,” the Minister said regarding the meeting with McGurk.

“McGurk reiterated as long as the steps are accelerated toward the unification of the Peshmerga forces the U.S. and coalitions will provide more support for the Peshmerga forces,” He said.

Earlier on Saturday, after his arrival in the United States of America the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga minister Shoresh Ismael along with a ministerial delegation met senior U.S. officials from the U.S. Department of State in the U.S. capital to discuss the unification of Peshmerga forces.

“Our visit to the U.S. was crucial and necessary, we dispatched the message of the Kurdistan Region to senior officials in Washington which see itself in protecting security and stability,” Ismael told a press conference, Esta Media Network reported.

“The Americans have explicitly told us that they will halt the support to the Peshmerga forces if the reforms do not progress furthermore,” He added.

In February 2018, the Ministry of Peshmerga announced a 35-point plan to make the Peshmerga a more efficient, modern, and non-partisan fighting force, which was developed in consultation with advisors from the U.S., UK, and Germany.

The Peshmerga ministry’s reforms include the unification of its units that are not under the command of the official military institution as well as training for the forces.

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