At chokepoint of supply and demand

It takes roughly 45 minutes to drive from Mosul to Kalak, located 30 km northwest of Arbil, a Kurdish stronghold.

But it takes an eternity to cross the checkpoint controlled by Iraqi soldiers, according to Kurdish truckers, whose livelihood depends on small trade with Mosul, the nearest city under Iraqi jurisdiction.

"It is torture," says Asso Ali, who has been transporting cargo from Kurdish areas to Mosul for the past 12 years.

"They make us unload the entire cargo. They inspect everything, and they find silly problems. We must wait at least three hours. If we do not cooperate, or if we debate with them, they beat us up."

Ali sells his cargo, which usually includes wheat, barley and sheepskin, to merchants in Mosul. His monthly intake amounts to roughly 2,000 Iraqi dinars ($240).