GAZIANTEP, Turkey — Negotiations to set up a branch of the Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) in areas recently retaken from the Islamic State (IS) have been halted, as a severe lack of trust continues to undermine relations between Kurdish and Arab populations in the north of Syria.

The informal talks were held in late August between SCD members and those involved in the temporary management of the city of Manbij after it was taken from IS earlier in the month. One of the participants told Al-Monitor the talks were heavily affected by previous arrests of SCD members in a Kurdish-majority area in the same region, equipment confiscated and a center thought to have been shut down by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) this spring in Afrin, the only Kurdish-dominated area where the group had previously been working.

SCD Aleppo regional chief Ammar Selmo told Al-Monitor “we want guarantees” that the same will not happen in Manbij, which was taken from IS on Aug. 12. Selmo had traveled to Turkey for a few days for meetings, but has since returned to Syria.

The SCD, also known as the "White Helmets," works in opposition-held areas and has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.