Turkish media suggest imprisoned PKK leader may call for disarmament

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Turkish media reports indicate that Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), is expected to soon call on his party to lay down arms. 

According to Turkish media reports, the Turkish government is working to ensure that Ocalan issues a clear and decisive appeal to the PKK, urging its leadership to comply, and experts discussed that the effectiveness of Ocalan’s call and the PKK’s response, will be pivotal in shaping the future of the Kurds in Syria.

A political analyst suggests that if the United States successfully brokers an agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Damascus transitional government, while also fostering reconciliation between the SDF and the Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNCS), the PKK will find itself unable to resist Washington’s strategy and may be compelled to accept Ocalan’s directive.

In the near future, a delegation from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (aka DEM party) is expected to visit Ocalan for the third time, after which he is anticipated to issue his long-awaited call for disarmament. 

PKK’s Limited Strategic Options

In an interview with Kurdistan24, writer Yıldıray Oğur questioned the viability of Iran as an option for the PKK, particularly given Tehran’s weakening influence in the Middle East.

"Iran is no longer a strong choice for the PKK, as its regional power has significantly declined," Oğur explained. "Although the US is an ally, it does not use the People's Defense Units (YPG) against Turkey, a NATO member. This leaves the PKK with very few options. The party remains trapped in a 50-year-old strategy, unable to adapt to new realities. If Ocalan calls for disarmament, the PKK should not reject it outright but rather seize this golden opportunity for peace, one that may never come again." 

The Need for Favorable Conditions

For Ocalan’s call to be decisive, and for the PKK to provide a clear and positive response, a suitable political and diplomatic climate must be established, according to a leading political commentator.

Sociologist and Political Commentator Masoud Yegen, asserts that a comprehensive US-backed agreement between Turkey, the SDF, the Damascus transitional government, and the Kurdish National Council in Syria would leave the PKK with no room to maneuver, effectively compelling it to accept Ocalan’s directive.

"As of now, no agreement has been reached between Turkey, the United States, SDF, and Damascus. Until such a deal is finalized, Ocalan may not be able to call for disarmament. Even if he does, the PKK will find it difficult to comply. However, recent developments indicate that a US-brokered agreement is imminent," Yegen stated.

Ocalan had previously urged the PKK to disarm during the Turkish peace process, but the group did not comply. Whether the PKK chooses a different path this time remains uncertain, but recent statements from its leadership suggest continued reluctance to lay down arms.