Iraq’s fight against Daesh has been a monumental one, and it is clearly bearing fruit. The terrorists have now lost almost all territory they had seized in the country. This is a time for Iraq to consolidate its gains and turn a new page in its painful history of the past few decades. The Kurds, both in Syria and Iraq, have played a key role in combating Daesh, too. Hence, it is very important that Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) do not get entangled in a potentially disastrous conflict over the future of oil-rich Kirkuk.

Kirkuk, a city of more than a million, lies just outside the territory controlled by the KRG. In 2014, when Iraqi security forces collapsed in the face of a full-blown Daesh assault, Kurdish Peshmerga forces deployed there helped prevent a takeover of the city and its oilfields. The Iraqi government wants the Kurdish forces to return the city to Baghdad’s control.

In the latest flare-up, Kurdish forces had also taken positions southwest of Kirkuk, but later withdrew. That is an encouraging sign. Iraqi army units continue to assemble around the area.

The current tensions must be seen in the context of last month’s independence referendum in Kurdistan. Iraq is an ancient land that has always been a mosaic of various religious, ethnic, and linguistic groups. Its greatness is its unity in diversity.

There is no reason why Kurdish political aspirations cannot find expression in a unified Iraq. On its part, the government in Baghdad should steer clear of issuing threats and ultimatums, and instead channel its efforts towards helping find a negotiated settlement to the dispute.

The situation in Kirkuk is very delicate. One the one hand, militiamen from the Popular Mobilisation Units have gathered alongside the Iraqi army, while on the other, thousands more Peshmerga forces have been brought into Kirkuk to defend the city “at any cost”.

Any miscalculation from either party can ignite fires that will be very hard to douse. The certain victory against Daesh has provided Iraqis with a unique opportunity to unite around a national cause, and build bridges between communities.

It is a chance that should not be allowed to go to waste. Now is the time for Iraq to seriously concentrate on rebuilding, and reaching out to disgruntled communities. The last thing Iraq needs is a new theatre of war.