Turkey Advocates for the Complete Disarmament of the PKK and Affiliated Groups

Turkish authorities have escalated their demands for the complete disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its affiliated groups in response to a historic call from the party's incarcerated leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to conclude the decades-long insurgency.  

On Sunday, Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the hard-line nationalist MHP party and a significant ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, underscored the necessity of unconditional disarmament for not only the PKK but also its affiliated forces, including the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).  

Bahceli reiterated Ankara's opposition to armed Kurdish factions, asserting that the PKK terrorist organization and its affiliated groups must immediately and without preconditions surrender their weapons.  The PKK has declared an armistice in response to Ocalan's February 27 appeal for disarmament, stating that its forces will not engage in attacks unless provoked.  Nevertheless, the SDF is adamant that the disarmament directive does not apply to its forces that are currently operating in Syria, despite appreciating the appeal.

 The conflict, which has persisted for more than four decades, has had a substantial impact on Turkey's security policies and has resulted in over 40,000 fatalities.  Initially, the PKK desired an independent Kurdish state; however, it has since shifted its focus to autonomy within Turkey. The PKK has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.  Turkey's population of 85 million is about 20% Kurdish, and tensions between the government and Kurdish groups are still severe.  

Turkey has conducted three significant military operations in northern Syria since 2016, with the objective of reducing the presence of the PKK and YPG along its southern border.  The recent peace developments have the potential to be a turning point in Turkey's long-standing struggle against the Kurdish insurgency. However, Ankara remains resolute in its demand for cessation beyond Turkey's borders, particularly in northern Syria.

 In the interim, Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), issued a warning regarding the potential for sectarian tensions to escalate, and urged the Syrian government to hold those responsible for communal violence in littoral regions for accountability.  Abdi, in written comments to Reuters, strongly encouraged Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to intervene and prevent what he termed "massacres."  

He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the establishment of the new Syrian army, alleging that certain factions were exploiting their positions to incite sectarian conflict.  The Turkish Defense Ministry declined to provide a response to Abdi's statements, stating that it is committed to guaranteeing that all PKK-affiliated groups comply with the ceasefire terms.  The success of this most recent peace initiative remains uncertain, as Ankara continues to exert diplomatic and military pressure. Questions persist regarding the extent of disarmament and the fate of Kurdish armed groups in Syria and Iraq.