PKK eyes 'democratic integration' in Turkey, end to armed struggle phase

In a stunning and potentially historic shift, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) declared the beginning of "a strategic transformation" from armed struggle to peaceful democratic engagement in Turkey.

Speaking exclusively to The New Arab, Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) spokesperson Zagros Hiwa rejected claims of disarmament, clarifying that the group is preparing to abandon its military strategy in favour of "Democratic Politics and Democratic Integration".

"This is not 'laying down arms' or 'disarmament'," Hiwa wrote in a detailed email exchange. "It signifies our seriousness, determination and sincerity in abandoning the strategy of military struggle and adopting democratic politics within the Republic of Turkey."

Zagros acknowledged earlier reports that a group of PKK-affiliated guerrilla fighters are preparing to destroy their weapons and withdraw to their bases—part of what he described as a "unilateral step" demonstrating commitment to peace.

Moreover, Zagros stressed that a symbolic ceremony is planned between 10 and 12 July in Sulaimaniyah, where these fighters are expected to formally farewell their arms. Still, he refused to disclose further details for now.

"No weapon will be handed over to anybody, neither will anybody surrender," Hiwa stressed. "The Kurdistan freedom fighters will destroy their weapons and return to their bases, preparing themselves for democratic integration. A step which totally depends on the political will of the Turkish authorities and the constitutional and legal changes they would make to accommodate integration."

This development follows a series of political moves initiated by imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who issued a call for "Peace and Democratic Society" on 27 February. That appeal was followed by a unilateral ceasefire announced by PKK forces on 1 March. It culminated in the organisation's 12th Congress in early May, during which a formal decision was taken to dissolve the PKK's military structure.

The decision marks the potential end of a bloody conflict that began in 1984 and has cost over 40,000 lives, most of them in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast. A previous peace process collapsed in 2015, ushering in another cycle of violence and crackdowns.

Hiwa confirmed that since early 2025, an indirect dialogue process had resumed between Öcalan and the Turkish state, setting the stage for the latest announcements. The KCK, which serves as the PKK's broader umbrella body, spans across Kurdish and leftist groups in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, and follows Öcalan's ideology of democratic autonomy and multicultural governance.

Whether that vision can now be realised without arms, Hiwa said, will depend "largely on the Turkish state's willingness to engage in good faith" and to enact constitutional reforms allowing for Kurdish political participation within the framework of a unified Turkey.

Observers have so far greeted the news with cautious optimism, noting both the unprecedented nature of the PKK's decision and the fragility of the path ahead. As the group prepares for what may be its final transformation, all eyes are now on Ankara and whether the Turkish government will respond with dialogue or resistance.