"There Are Other Ways": Why the Kurdistan Workers' Party Abandoned Armed Struggle with Turkey

May 13, 2025 7:06 PM

The recent congress of the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced its self-dissolution in Turkey. Orientalist expert Ikbal Direli commented on the reasons and consequences of this decision in the media.

This expert believes that there are other forces within the Kurdish movement who have not abandoned the idea of establishing a Kurdish state. For example, Iraqi Kurds have already achieved autonomy within Iraq. They previously held a referendum on independence and achieved positive results, and to this day they claim that their main goal is independence.

Experts stated: "The Kurdistan Workers' Party has abandoned the idea of establishing a Kurdish state, but this does not mean that other forces share the same idea."

He pointed out that when the PKK was founded 48 years ago, its goal was to establish an independent Kurdistan, but over 20 years ago, the party ideologically "abandoned this goal" and bet on political struggle methods. Therefore, accusing the Kurdistan Workers' Party of betraying the dreams of the Kurds is incorrect.

Ikbal Direli explained that the reasons for the PKK's decision were defeats in the fight against the Turkish army and public fatigue.

This political scientist said: "The Turkish army has actively and successfully fought against the Kurds within its borders; continuing armed struggle no longer makes sense. And the public is also exhausted."

He said: "Shifting the struggle to the legal level is good news not only for the Kurds but also for Turkey because the war with the Kurdistan Workers' Party has consumed a lot of energy from the Turkish state."

Experts emphasized: "Now Turkey will have more opportunities in terms of economic development and regional progress. I believe that the end of armed conflict is a positive step, and there is nothing wrong with it. Things should be this way. The Kurds have enough resources to continue political struggle without using weapons."

This orientalist expert pointed out that Syrian Kurds have begun negotiations with Damascus's new regime regarding autonomy, such as the right to education in their native language, and former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad did not engage in similar negotiations, which is his shortcoming.

Experts believe that Russia's position in Syria has declined, and it will face greater difficulties in conducting affairs in the Middle East. Russia's recovery of its position will depend on the outcome of the special military operation in Ukraine and negotiations with Washington because "all these are part of the same thing."

Ikbal Direli finally said: "I think, regardless of how things turn out, these issues are under discussion."

The Kurdistan Workers' Party was founded in 1978 and has been waging armed struggle for decades to secure national rights for Turkish Kurds and establish Kurdish territorial autonomy.

In April this year, the official Turkish newspaper Türkiye reported that the disarmament process of the Kurdistan Workers' Party may begin in June and that organizational preparations are underway, particularly determining the locations for handing over weapons and negotiating the disarmament procedures. Meanwhile, authorities ruled out the possibility of pardoning its leader Abdullah Ocalan in the event of the organization's dissolution. The armed confrontation between the Kurdistan Workers' Party and Turkish authorities began in 1984 and entered a highly intense phase again in 2015.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7504185807582839308/

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