Page 298 - America's Failure to Perceive the PKK

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps chased off the militants up to

Mount Qandil, got hold of an entire PKK camp and granted a certain
time period to the PKK for them to pull back right before Iran's
preparations for a full- scale military operation targeting the camps.
The Peshmerga in Iraq was also alerted to secure their borders. At
that time, out of excessive fear, the PJAK pulled back long before the
time given to them by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and was
obliged to announce a "unilateral" ceasefire. Thus, they "kindly
requested" Iran to comply with this unilateral ceasefire. PKK leader
Karayılan's statements at that time reveal how the Iranian regime

had a powerful effect against the PKK:

… There will no longer be any PJAK guerillas in Mount
Qandil's territory and other areas over the border. This is a

measure implemented unilaterally not to spark off Iran for
a new attack and I hope Iran will take notice of this, too. At

this stage, this prospect of confrontation with Iran is at a very
critical point because, if after this stage, Iran starts its
onslaught once again, then not only PJAK, but we, as the
PKK, will also have to step in... However, we, as the PKK, have
not declared any war against Iran and we do not want to
fight against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This reluctance of Karayılan for an armed struggle against Iran
is because of its fear of Iran's arms and the country's strong military
force, and its expected defeat. Karayılan's whiny statements are in a
way to confirm this:

By means of this attack carried out in person of PJAK, Iran
wants to invade Mount Qandil in its totality... It has deployed
all its tanks, cannons, and modern armament and missiles,
capable of hitting not only Qandil and Hewler, but also

much far, bazookas and entire technique, along with 30
thousand of troops right across Mount Qandil. 115

296 America's Failure to Perceive the PKK