The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced on Monday that it would withdraw all its forces from Turkey to northern Iraq, marking a turning point in the decades-long peace process with Ankara. The decision could bring an end to a conflict that has claimed around 50,000 lives since the 1980s. The withdrawal, declared in the Qandil region of northern Iraq, follows the PKK’s formal renunciation of its 40-year-long armed struggle in May.
The latest development represents a practical step in the ongoing disarmament process that began several months ago. The PKK is attempting to shift from armed rebellion to political participation within a democratic framework. The decision was made with the approval of the group’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who has been held in a prison near Istanbul since 1999. Earlier this year, Ocalan urged the PKK to disband and lay down its arms, responding to the government’s Terror-free Turkey initiative, which was introduced by a political ally of the ruling party last year.
The path to full disarmament has begun to show tangible progress. In July, the PKK held a symbolic ceremony in the mountains of northern Iraq where the group destroyed its first collection of weapons. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described that event as the opening of a new page in history for a strong and united Turkey and called it an irreversible turning point. The most recent withdrawal involved 25 fighters, including eight women, who travelled from Turkey to northern Iraq, where the organisation has long maintained hideouts. Sabri Ok, a member of the Kurdistan Communities Union, said the withdrawal to northern Iraq was intended to prevent clashes or provocations during the delicate process.
From the Turkish government’s point of view, the move is seen as a major success within its broader political roadmap. Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), wrote on X that the PKK’s decision fits directly within the framework of the Terrorism-Free Turkey process. He said the central goal of the initiative was to ensure the dissolution and disarmament of all armed groups in the region, including the PKK’s Syrian branch, the YPG. He also noted that the process aimed to safeguard democracy and prevent any form of external manipulation through armed groups.
The political foundations of the process rest heavily on national unity. To take forward the Terror-free Turkey initiative, the parliament has established a 51-member body known as the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission. This group has been tasked with proposing and overseeing legal and political reforms.
While the PKK has portrayed the withdrawal as a demonstration of its commitment to peace, the group has also urged the Turkish government to take reciprocal action. PKK spokesman Zagros Hiwa referred to the withdrawal as a one-sided step designed to show seriousness and determination, but also called on Ankara to implement the necessary legal and political reforms that would enable the PKK’s transition into peaceful politics. The group has requested laws that guarantee freedoms and democratic participation. Hiwa expressed disappointment that the Turkish state has not yet changed its political stance, pointing out that Kurdish language use remains restricted in parliament, which he claimed indicates that denial politics are still in place.
The immediate future of the peace process will involve high-level political engagement. The announcement of the withdrawal came just before President Erdogan’s planned third meeting with Kurdish legislators who have been consulting with Ocalan. The next phase is expected to involve legal amendments addressing the PKK’s status and the fate of those imprisoned on terrorism-related charges.
The resolution of Turkey’s long-standing conflict with the PKK could have a major impact across the wider Middle East. Ankara has closely tied the reconciliation with the PKK to its efforts to eliminate security threats from groups such as the YPG, which Ankara regards as an offshoot of the PKK supported by the US. Turkish officials have made it clear that the peace process requires vigilance to prevent sabotage and provocation from both domestic and foreign actors, reminding us about earlier peace initiatives, such as the one launched in 2015, which ultimately collapsed.