PKK Announces Historic Disbandment, Signaling Potential New Chapter in Kurdish-Turkish Relations

 In a momentous development with far-reaching implications for regional security and diplomacy, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has formally declared its decision to disarm and disband its armed wing, bringing to a close more than four decades of armed insurgency against the Turkish state. The announcement follows an appeal made earlier this year by the group’s imprisoned founder and ideological figurehead, Abdullah Öcalan.

The PKK’s leadership confirmed the dissolution of its guerrilla forces, characterizing the move as the culmination of a “historic mission” that has brought the Kurdish issue in Turkey to the threshold of resolution through democratic means. Widely designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the PKK has waged an armed campaign since 1984, seeking autonomy and recognition for Kurds in southeastern Turkey.

“The PKK has brought the Kurdish issue to the point of resolution through democratic politics, and in this regard, the PKK has completed its historical mission,” the organization’s leadership said in a formal statement. The disarmament applies to PKK-affiliated forces operating near the Turkish borders with Iraq and Iran, as well as to aligned or splinter groups in northeast Syria.

While the PKK’s decision signals a major shift, there has been no official indication from Ankara that the Turkish government is prepared to engage in renewed dialogue. The announcement appears to be unilateral, though it coincides with recent political outreach efforts by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a key coalition partner of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Reports from Turkish media suggest Bahçeli has been quietly exploring opportunities to bolster President Erdoğan’s political base through increased engagement with the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. This move is widely seen as a strategy to extend Erdoğan’s tenure beyond his constitutionally defined two-term presidency.

In response to the PKK’s statement, Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Ömer Çelik urged caution but acknowledged the potential significance of the move: “If the latest PKK decision is fully implemented—shutting down all of its branches and structures—it will be a turning point.”

The PKK’s leadership described the disarmament as “a solid foundation for lasting peace and a democratic solution,” reiterating calls for Öcalan’s release from the high-security prison on İmralı Island, where he has been held since his capture in Kenya in 1999.

Founded in 1978, the PKK’s early insurgency targeted Turkish military and infrastructure sites, evolving over decades into a wider struggle for Kurdish political recognition. The group has been criticized by international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, for actions that adversely affected Kurdish civilian populations, particularly during the conflict-heavy 1990s.

According to the International Crisis Group, the PKK-Turkey conflict has claimed the lives of tens of thousands. Following the collapse of a ceasefire in 2015, violence surged, with more than 1,700 deaths recorded within a year—including civilians, PKK fighters, and Turkish security personnel.

The PKK’s demobilization also casts a new light on the future of allied Kurdish military entities in Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), once supported by the United States in the fight against ISIS, have faced growing pressure to integrate into the newly reconstituted Syrian military apparatus following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region.

SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement in March with Damascus to begin merging SDF-led institutions into the Syrian national framework. However, Abdi has firmly dissociated his forces from the PKK’s decision, stating: “To be clear, this only concerns the PKK and is nothing related to us here in Syria.”

The PKK's decision to lay down arms marks the end of an era—and potentially the beginning of a new chapter in the Kurdish quest for political inclusion within the Turkish state. Whether this announcement will catalyze a broader reconciliation process remains uncertain, but its symbolic weight and practical implications are undeniable.

As the region adjusts to the ripple effects of this landmark declaration, the international community will be watching closely to see if this unprecedented move fosters the democratic engagement and durable peace long sought by so many.