Ankara’s next moves: forging a new future after the symbolic PKK disarmament

Turkey stands at a historic crossroads following the symbolic disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that could reshape the nation’s approach to the long-standing Kurdish issue.

The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, plans to invite political parties to form a parliamentary committee to oversee a new dialogue process aimed at resolving the conflict. Billed as a “new beginning,” this initiative has sparked both hope and skepticism, reflecting the complexities of Turkey’s political landscape.

30 PKK members ceremonially burned their weapons on 11 July, in Sulaimaniyah, northern Iraq, signaling the group’s intent to end its four-decade armed campaign against Turkey. This conflict, which began in 1984, has claimed over 40,000 lives.

Kurdish PKK militants burn weapons in Iraq, signalling disarmament

The decision to disarm follows a public call in May by the PKK’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who described the move as a “voluntary transition from armed conflict to democratic politics and law” in a video recorded in June and released last week via Firat News Agency-affiliated groups. Öcalan framed the disarmament as a “historic gain” for peace.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, addressing his Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Saturday, declared that “the scourge of terrorism has entered the process of ending.” The proposed parliamentary committee, comprising 22 to 35 members from various parties, including those without parliamentary groups, will monitor the disarmament process and propose legislative measures to support peace. Operating even during the summer, the committee will focus on technical oversight but, as Kurtulmuş emphasized, will not address constitutional amendments or potential amnesty for Öcalan.

Political perspectives

The AKP underscores the importance of managing disarmament without committing to broader political reforms. In contrast, the main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), advocates for a wider scope, emphasizing democratic reforms, rule of law, and political freedoms. The CHP argues that the committee should tackle issues like the prosecution of elected mayors and political trials, proposing equal representation for all parties and decision-making by a special majority to prevent government dominance. It also suggests that non-member MPs should have a voice in discussions.

The DEM Party, representing much of Turkey’s Kurdish population, stresses inclusive democratic participation, urging the committee to engage human rights organisations, bar associations, feminist groups, academics, and civil society to ensure a broad, transparent process. Meanwhile, the Yeni Yol (New Path), a joint group formed by the Future Party, the Happiness Party and the DEVA Party, fears the committee could rubber-stamp government decisions and echoes the CHP’s call for a special majority and detailed briefings. The İYİ Party, however, has rejected participation outright, citing doubts about the government’s intentions.

The committee’s composition and scope will determine its success. Can it foster genuine reconciliation, or will it serve as a tool for political management? While Kurtulmuş signals progress, opposition demands for structural reforms highlight a gap in expectations. The participation or absence of key parties will shape the committee’s legitimacy and impact.

Public opinion is divided. Polls indicate that 45–50% of Turks view the disarmament as a step toward lasting peace, eager to end the armed conflict. However, many remain wary, concerned that the government may exploit the process for electoral gains or that it could compromise security and national unity. Social media reflects this tension, with calls for transparency, human rights, and reforms clashing with nationalist sentiments, particularly from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which insists on safeguarding Turkey’s unity.

The PKK and the Kurdish question

The Kurds, an ethnic group of over 30 million, were divided among Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran after World War I. The PKK, founded in 1978, initially sought an independent Kurdish state but shifted in the 1990s to demand autonomy within Turkey. Labeled a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU, the PKK’s armed struggle and attacks on civilians have fueled decades of violence, while Turkey’s counteroperations have been criticized for displacing Kurdish civilians and destroying villages.

The 2013 peace talks between Erdoğan and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) collapsed in 2015, leading to crackdowns on HDP members, including the 2016 detention of its co-leader, Selahattin Demirtaş, on charges criticized by Human Rights Watch as vague. Kurds, comprising 15–20% of Turkey’s population, remain the country’s largest minority, with significant populations in Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

The PKK’s disarmament has broader implications, particularly in Syria, where the YPG, an offshoot of the PKK, operates as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, clarified in a recent Anadolu Agency interview that while the YPG shares origins with the PKK, the SDF is a distinct entity.

He warned that failure to integrate the SDF into Syrian state institutions could lead to tensions with both the Syrian and Turkish governments. On 10 March, the Syrian presidency announced an agreement to integrate the SDF, emphasizing territorial unity. The recent flight of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Russia on 8 December, ending the Baath Party’s 62-year rule, adds further complexity to the region’s dynamics.

Turkey’s political system faces a rare opportunity to address the Kurdish issue through dialogue, but challenges abound.

The committee’s ability to balance technical oversight with meaningful reform will determine whether it can bridge divides or deepen mistrust.

As Turkish society grapples with hope for peace and fears of political manipulation, the path forward remains uncertain, shaped by the delicate interplay of politics, history, and public sentiment.

Edited by a.k. Other sources used: Reuters, Analodlu Agency

Caption: A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan(C), head of Turkish Intelligence Ibrahim Kalin (R), Justice and Development (AK) Party Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala (2-R), Turkish pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) delegation members Pervin Buldan (2-L) and Mithat Sancar (L) pose for a photo during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 7 July 2025. Since jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan publicly called for the disarmament of the PKK in February 2025, DEM delegations have continued efforts to advance a potential peace process. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE /