Kurds in Iraq & Syria in the aftermath of ISIS

Although different aspects of rise and fall of the the ISIS have been explored in variety of studies, its consequences for political prestige of the Kurds in Iraq and Syria have properly been unexplored. Focusing on the aftermaths of this process for Kurds in the countries, the present study attempts to articulate what have they either obtain or lose in political aspects due to its presence or absence. As the study shows, the Syrian Kurds could use the rise of ISIS as an opportunity to position their claim for autonomy in the Kurdish regions. On the other hand, Kurdish state in Iragi Kurdistan primarily benefited the challenges between the central state and the ISIS as an opportunity to expand their autonomous region over Kirkuk and also to hold Referendum for independence. However, due to interior and international reactions has failed in both prospects. In Syria too, the Turkish invasion of the northern Kurdish regions, and other national and international factors, have obscured the horizon for Kurdish autonomy (just like Iraq).