The New Peace Initiative and Kurdish Perspective

Background on Kurdish Conflict

In March 2025, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) embarked on a groundbreaking peace initiative in Turkey to resolve a conflict that spans over four decades and has resulted in more than 40,000 fatalities. This pivotal moment was sparked by a call from Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK’s imprisoned leader, urging disarmament and the dissolution of the organization.

In response, the PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire on March 1, 2025. Subsequently, at its 12th Congress (May 5–7, 2025), the group pledged to cease all armed and political operations. As stated in the official declaration: “The 12th Congress resolved to dissolve the PKK’s organizational structure and end the armed struggle, with the implementation process to be managed and led by Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. All activities conducted under the PKK name have therefore been concluded.”

A resolution of the Kurdish conflict could offer an electoral path for a third term for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by consolidating power and boosting his support among the Kurdish electorate, helping establish Turkey’s growing position in the region on firm grounds. Although the disarmament and dissolution of the PKK offers an invaluable opportunity to resolve this long-standing issue, at this time the situation remains complex and uncertain.

While the PKK has expressed a willingness to disarm, it insists that complete disarmament hinges on the establishment of a legal framework that guarantees democratic rights and protections for the Kurdish people in Turkey. Although the Erdoğan government has acknowledged the PKK’s stance, thus far its response has offered no clear roadmap or timeline to address these demands.

As a result, skepticism persists among Kurdish communities and opposition groups, fueled by the failure of past peace negotiations and ongoing political repression, including the arrests of pro-Kurdish politicians and the dismissal of democratically elected mayors. For instance, former co-leaders of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, remain in prison.

Kurdish Leaders’ Key Demands

PKK leaders stress the importance of a mutual ceasefire to create an environment that supports disarmament, contending that ceasing hostilities is vital to foster trust and enable a transition from armed conflict to political engagement.

The PKK and other Kurdish political actors have outlined key conditions for their disarmament and dissolution as part of the ongoing peace process with Turkey. These conditions center on the need for political, legal, and cultural reforms to secure Kurdish rights and build a foundation for lasting peace.

• Legal and Democratic Reforms — The PKK and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party have underscored the urgent necessity of tangible democratic reforms, including changes to anti-terror laws, judicial reforms, and the establishment of legal protections for Kurdish rights and freedoms in Turkey.  
   
• Reintegration of PKK Fighters — The disarmament process requires pathways for the safe reintegration of PKK fighters into Turkish society. This includes legal reforms, amnesty for lower-ranking militants, and relocation options for senior leadership to third-party countries.  
   
• Recognition of Cultural Rights and Kurdish Identity — The demand for the recognition of Kurdish identity — including cultural, language, and education rights — has gained recent prominence. Bülent Arınç, a cofounder of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has acknowledged that addressing these issues is essential to advancing the peace process.  
   
• Release of Abdullah Öcalan — The PKK insists on the release of its imprisoned leader, arguing that his direct participation is key to the disarmament process and motivating members to comply. While some political figures have suggested that a complete dissolution of the PKK and a commitment to nonviolence could open the door for Öcalan’s release, these remarks remain speculative and lack official backing from the Turkish government.  
   
• Political Participation and Local Governance — The PKK and affiliated groups seek increased political participation and greater autonomy in local governance, including protections against repression. Ensuring meaningful participation in national politics is viewed as central to a sustainable peace.

Uncertain Government Assurances

So far, the disarmament initiative appears to be one-sided. Despite the PKK’s declaration of intent to disarm and dissolve in line with Öcalan’s call, the Turkish government has not offered any formal guarantees in return. Authorities have remained noncommittal on key Kurdish demands — including democratic reforms, cultural rights, and Öcalan’s release — leaving Kurdish expectations unmet and the government’s intentions unclear.

The DEM party has voiced concerns over the government’s lack of clarity. Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, deputy chair of DEM’s parliamentary group, noted that in closed-door meetings, government representatives used broad slogans such as “a terror-free Turkey,” while failing to present a clear strategy to address the Kurdish community’s aspirations. The DEM Party has expressed frustration over the lack of specific commitments from the Turkish government.

Erdoğan has stated unequivocally that the PKK must disarm unconditionally before any discussions about Kurdish rights can begin. He has warned that if the disarmament process stalls, military operations against the PKK will resume. This underscores the government’s view of disarmament as a non-negotiable prerequisite, rather than a part of a broader dialogue.

Risks if Peace Efforts Fail

The PKK has yet to outline a clear course of action should its expectations go unmet; however, there are indications of what its leadership may consider a minimum threshold.

Murat Karayılan, a senior commander of the PKK’s armed wing — the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) — has stressed the importance of establishing a bilateral ceasefire and securing the release of Öcalan as essential steps toward advancing the disarmament process. Karayılan noted that disarmament cannot proceed without Öcalan’s direct involvement, emphasizing the necessity of fostering a conducive environment for dialogue and peace talks.

In a similar vein, Remzi Kartal, cochair of the PKK’s political wing — Kurdistan People’s Congress (KGK) — asserted that disarmament cannot proceed unless the underlying reasons for the armed struggle are addressed. He pointed out that the PKK’s existence is fundamentally linked to the Turkish state’s policies that deny and oppress Kurdish identity.

Motivations for the First Move

Despite the absence of formal assurances from the Turkish government, the PKK’s unilateral disarmament initiative is driven by strategic, political, and internal factors. At its core is Öcalan’s powerful call for disarmament and dissolution, leveraging his enduring influence to persuade the PKK to end its armed operations.

Strategic — From a strategic perspective, the PKK has claimed that its armed struggle has achieved its objective of elevating Kurdish issues within Turkey’s political discourse, suggesting that further armed conflict may not be the most effective path forward to advance Kurdish rights.

Political — Unilateral disarmament may be a way to gain political leverage by pressuring the Turkish government to pursue reforms and attracting international support. This strategy is particularly relevant amid mounting external challenges, including Turkey’s intensified military operations against PKK strongholds in northern Iraq, which have weakened the group’s operational effectiveness. Additionally, shifting geopolitical factors — such as the withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria — have reduced support for Kurdish factions associated with the PKK, further undermining its regional influence.

Internal — The PKK’s decision to disarm unilaterally signifies a significant strategic shift driven by its leadership, a reevaluation of the effectiveness of armed resistance, political considerations, and outside influences. This move suggests that the organization is preparing to transition from violent confrontation to political engagement.

Next Steps for Peace

This brief highlights the fragile nature of the ongoing peace negotiations and the critical need for both sides to build mutual trust and take concrete steps toward a lasting resolution. While the PKK has signaled willingness through unilateral gestures, the Turkish government has responded with caution — insisting on unconditional disarmament without offering concrete commitments to reforms or concessions.

This careful approach has led to doubt among Kurdish communities about the authenticity and viability of the peace initiative. Any changes to Öcalan’s status will likely hinge on meaningful progress in the broader peace process. Sustained commitment and reciprocal gestures will be essential to transforming this tentative moment into a durable peace.

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