Turkey's Erdogan rejects criticism of peace efforts with PKK

ANKARA,— Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday the peace process aimed at ending decades of conflict with Kurdish PKK militants was moving forward in a “positive atmosphere,” pushing back against criticism from pro-Kurdish lawmakers.

Addressing the parliament, Erdogan said that recent steps had brought the process to a more delicate stage, following approval of a parliamentary commission report that laid out a roadmap for legal reforms alongside the disbandment of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK.

The remarks followed sharp criticism from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which a day earlier accused the government of moving in a “hesitant, timid and stalling manner,” even as the party described the current moment as a rare opening for lasting peace.

Erdogan pushed back firmly against those accusations. He told lawmakers the situation was moving in the right direction, that the path forward was well understood, and that the process was unfolding as expected.

People who saw little hope in the effort were basing their views on false assumptions rather than reality, he added.

He said the commission report approval had brought the country to a crossroads requiring careful handling, and that his ruling People’s Alliance would seek support from other political parties to move forward.

The PKK took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984, pushing for greater autonomy for Kurds in southeastern Turkey.

The Kurds make up nearly 30 percent of Turkey’s population of 85 million, according to 2012 statistics. According to Ankara the conflict has killed more than 40,000 fighters and soldiers.

The PKK halted attacks last year and announced in May it had voted to disband and end its armed struggle, following a February 2025 call from its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan.

A standoff over next steps persists. Ankara insists disarmament must be confirmed before any further legal or political steps are taken, while Kurdish political figures have pressed for faster reforms.

(With files from Reuters)