Why it matters:
The pullout seems to be a pivotal turning point in one of the region’s longest-running conflicts. If sustained, it could end a decades-long insurgency that claimed roughly 50,000 lives and reshape security dynamics across southern Turkey, northern Iraq, and Syria.
Key Points:
- Formal withdrawal: At a ceremony in Mount Qandil, northern Iraq, the PKK confirmed the withdrawal of its remaining forces from Turkish territory.
- Ocalan’s approval: The move followed direct approval from PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999.
- Disarmament pledge: The step fulfills part of the PKK’s commitment from its 12th Congress in May, where it announced an official end to its armed struggle.
- Turkish response: AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik praised the development as a concrete outcome of Ankara’s “Terror-free Turkiye” initiative.
- Peace framework: A Turkish parliamentary commission is refining the legal framework to integrate PKK elements into civilian politics under a potential “Transitional Law.”
The big picture:
The disarmament process follows months of behind-the-scenes diplomacy and a gradual shift in Ankara’s counterinsurgency posture. While long viewed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the PKK’s latest move could facilitate a rare opportunity for reconciliation, provided new legal measures meet Kurdish political demands.
What they’re saying:
PKK statement: “Our actions reflect our determination and clear stance in implementing the PKK’s 12th Congress decisions.”
Ömer Çelik (AKP): “These steps represent tangible progress on the road toward a terror-free Turkey.”
State of play:
A special parliamentary commission will reconvene this week to hear testimonies from Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç regarding the evolving peace framework.
Go deeper:
Turkish authorities have leveraged cross-border operations into Iraq and Syria under the guise of anti-terrorism. The peace process could also impact Ankara’s relations with Erbil, given the PKK’s positioning inside KDP-controlled territory.
seyed mohammad kazemi - A.Akbari
