Turkey's Kurds await Ankara’s next move after PKK disbands

ANKARA,— Turkish authorities are facing rising expectations Tuesday to respond with meaningful actions after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared an end to its armed campaign, formally disbanding a movement that shaped four decades of conflict.

The PKK, designated as a “terrorist” group by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, announced its dissolution following a leadership congress held in the Qandil mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan (Bashur).

The decision, made public Monday, marks a potential turning point in a conflict that began in 1984 and has claimed over 40,000 lives.

The development has drawn attention from political figures, Kurdish representatives, and international observers, many of whom are now watching Ankara closely for signs of goodwill or policy shifts.

Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s imprisoned founder, welcomed the decision in a message delivered through the pro-Kurdish DEM party, which has acted as a bridge between Kurdish figures and Turkish political institutions.

“I respectfully greet the resolutions adopted at the 12th congress,” Ocalan said. He has been held in solitary confinement on Imrali Island near Istanbul since 1999.

DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakirhan called on the Turkish government to take immediate, concrete steps ahead of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, which begins on June 6.

“Taking immediate, human-centered and confidence-building steps before the holiday is crucial,” he said, adding that families were hoping for the release of political prisoners, particularly those suffering from serious health issues.

While no official response has come from the Turkish government, media reports indicate the PKK leadership may begin surrendering weapons at designated areas in Iraqi Kurdistan. However, no formal timeline has been disclosed.

A Kurdish source familiar with the group’s internal discussions told AFP that while the announcement was significant, the process of disarmament would not happen immediately.

“The fighters will not leave the mountains nor disarm right away,” the source said. “They are waiting for tangible measures from Ankara.”

Among the conditions cited are general amnesty provisions, the release of political figures like Selahattin Demirtas, the former head of a pro-Kurdish political party, and legal reforms to secure Kurdish cultural and language rights.

An Iraqi security official, speaking anonymously to AFP, said that the PKK expects Ankara to consider improving Ocalan’s conditions or even discussing his release as a signal of commitment to reconciliation.

However, Turkish officials are unlikely to support such a move due to security concerns and political sensitivities.

A source close to Turkey’s ruling AKP party said that while Ocalan’s release is not expected, his isolation may be gradually relaxed under monitored conditions.

The PKK began its armed campaign in 1984 seeking autonomy for Kurds in Turkish Kurdistan (Bakur). Although Kurds make up nearly 30 percent of the country’s population of 85 million, they remain constitutionally unrecognized as a distinct ethnic group.

The conflict has heavily affected Kurdish provinces such as Diyarbakir, Sirnak, and Hakkari, where clashes between Kurdish fighters and Turkish forces were frequent for decades.

Human rights organizations and some international groups have urged reconsideration of the PKK’s terrorist designation, citing its stated policy of targeting military and government facilities while strictly avoiding civilian casualties.

With the group’s formal disbandment now announced, Kurdish political voices say the next move rests with Ankara — and with it, the possibility of a long-awaited path toward resolution.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)