Turkey Calls for Immediate Resolution to Shingal Crisis as PKK Faces Crossroads

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged the Iraqi government to expedite efforts to resolve the status of Shingal, while reiterating Turkey’s expectation that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) must respond clearly to the recent call by its jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan to abandon armed struggle.

Speaking during a televised interview on Wednesday, Fidan emphasized that Ankara continues to expect a “constructive and timely” response from the PKK to Öcalan’s long-anticipated message—warning, however, that internal fractures and “ideological rigidity” within the group may prevent it from embracing a path of de-escalation.

“We are waiting for the PKK to respond to Öcalan’s call,” Fidan said, adding, “but there is a real possibility that internal dogmatism will derail this chance for peace.”

Iraq’s Role in Stabilizing Shingal

Touching on the protracted instability in Iraq’s Shingal district—a region plagued by overlapping armed groups and unresolved governance disputes—Fidan was unequivocal in calling on Baghdad to act decisively.

“The Shingal issue must be resolved without further delay,” he stated, urging the Iraqi government to fulfill its responsibilities and restore state authority over the region.

Shingal has long been a flashpoint for geopolitical tension, with PKK-affiliated elements remaining active in defiance of the 2020 Shingal Agreement signed between Baghdad and Erbil. Turkey has frequently accused these groups of undermining regional stability and jeopardizing the security of its southern border.

Turkey: No Appetite for Regional Confrontation

Fidan also addressed Turkey’s position on the broader Syrian conflict, emphasizing Ankara’s preference for diplomacy over escalation. Referring specifically to Israel’s intensified military activity in Syria, he warned that such operations threaten regional equilibrium.

“We are engaged in technical dialogue with Israel to reduce tensions in Syria,” Fidan said. “But let me be clear: Turkey does not seek confrontation with any country inside Syrian territory—not with Israel, nor with others.”

He underlined that Syria should be allowed to determine its own defensive and foreign policy without external interference, saying, “It is vital that Syria takes ownership of its own national security strategy and regional posture.”

DEM Party Meeting and Political Reconciliation

Fidan’s remarks come just one day before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to meet with a delegation from the pro-Kurdish Equality and Democracy of Peoples Party (DEM Party), a dialogue that has drawn considerable attention both domestically and abroad.

According to Turkish officials, the talks are expected to focus on national reconciliation, potential avenues for renewed dialogue with the Kurdish movement, and the broader trajectory of peace in Turkey.

Observers say the timing is critical: The PKK is reportedly preparing to convene a landmark conference this month, where it may formally announce its intention to lay down arms—an outcome that would mark a historic shift in a conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives over four decades.

A Fragile Opportunity for De-escalation

Despite Turkey’s insistence that it will not tolerate cross-border threats from PKK-linked factions in Syria or Iraq, the Turkish leadership appears to be signaling a cautious openness to political dialogue—provided that it yields tangible outcomes.

“We must not miss this window,” Fidan noted, referring to the wider peace process. “The region cannot afford further destabilization, especially when the potential for real progress exists.”