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When the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared its plan to disband last month, many in the region hoped this marked the beginning of a new era. For Leila, a mother living in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the announcement rekindled a long-held dream — reuniting with her son, who left three years ago to join the PKK. But weeks later, Leila says, “nothing has changed.” And for countless families like hers, the questions still remain: What does the PKK’s disbandment truly mean, and will it bring peace to a region devastated by 40 years of conflict?
The PKK, a Kurdish militant organization designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the US, UK, and EU, has waged a violent insurgency against Turkey for four decades. The war has cost more than 40,000 lives — many of them civilians — and destabilized areas in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. While its latest announcement suggests a desire for peace, families, fighters, and governments are still uncertain about what comes next.
I. The Human Toll of a Long-Running Conflict
1. Mothers Awaiting Their Children
Leila, who used to work as a sandwich seller, had never heard of the PKK until her son, an Iraqi-Kurd in his twenties, began speaking about their ideologies. He was drawn in by the group’s calls to protect Kurdish minorities across the Middle East, a population that remains the largest stateless ethnic group in the region.
She recounts how her son gradually changed — becoming more disciplined and independent. “They were preparing him,” she says. “Getting him ready for the harsh life in the mountains.” Eventually, he left with three other PKK members and began his training in the remote Qandil Mountains.
Since then, Leila has made regular trips into the mountains, hoping for a brief sighting of her son. But apart from two videos — the last of which came in March — she has seen and heard little.
2. Grief Mixed with Pride
For families like that of Rondek Takoor, the PKK’s disbandment brings both sorrow and a sense of vindication. Her brother, Kawa, died fighting for the group two years ago. “I always dream about him,” she says tearfully from her home in Sulaimaniya. She remembers their last meeting in 2019 when he urged her to join him in the mountains.
To Rondek, their family’s loss contributed to the current shift in the PKK’s stance. “It’s the sacrifices we’ve made and the martyrs we’ve lost that paved the way for leaders to talk peace,” she says.
II. A Complex Political Landscape
1. Turkey’s Position: Hope and Hesitation
The Turkish government has yet to launch a formal peace process, and no official ceasefire has been enacted. Nevertheless, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has welcomed the PKK’s move as a step toward achieving a “Turkey without terrorism.” On social media, he declared that a new era was beginning, characterized by “the elimination of terror and violence.”
Still, there are major hurdles ahead. According to PKK-linked sources, the group is demanding the release of its founder, Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned in solitary confinement since 1999. Spokesperson Zagros Hiwa emphasized, “The ball is now in Turkey’s court,” indicating that further progress depends on Turkish action.
However, not all within the PKK are convinced. A senior commander in Iraq said in a written statement that disarmament is “not up for discussion” at this time. He expressed skepticism about Turkey’s motives and suggested that real peace can only come when the root causes of the conflict are addressed.
2. Disarmament Talks in Progress?
BBC journalists were granted rare access to the Qandil Mountains — the stronghold of the PKK — but were denied entry at a key checkpoint. PKK authorities later explained that talks were in progress and that media coverage was unwelcome during such a sensitive time.
Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Mohammed Hussein confirmed that discussions are underway involving the PKK, Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Regional Government. These talks aim to determine how and under what terms the PKK would surrender its weapons.
III. What Lies Ahead for Fighters and Kurdish Movements?
1. Reintegration or Exile?
One of the most pressing questions is what will happen to the thousands of PKK fighters — especially Turkish nationals. Turkish media suggest that fighters who haven’t committed crimes in Turkey may be allowed to return without facing prosecution. However, PKK leaders could be forced into exile or required to remain in Iraq.
2. Implications for Other Kurdish Groups
The ripple effect of the PKK’s decision stretches beyond Turkey’s borders. In Syria, the Kurdish militia known as the People’s Protection Units (YPG) — which Turkey sees as an extension of the PKK — remains active. Despite US backing in the fight against ISIS, Turkey continues to label the YPG a terrorist organization.
President Erdoğan has insisted that the PKK’s decision to disband should include its affiliates in Iraq, Syria, and even Europe. Yet, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi has clarified that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the YPG, has signed a separate agreement with the Syrian regime and is not part of the PKK’s disarmament.
In Iran, the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) — another group affiliated with the PKK’s umbrella network — has expressed support for the peace initiative in Turkey. However, PJAK leaders say they do not plan to disarm or disband, and the group remains classified as a terrorist organization by both Iran and Turkey.
Conclusion: The End of One Chapter, But the Story Continues
The PKK’s announcement to disband is a historic turning point, but it is far from the end of the conflict. For the people of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria — especially ethnic Kurds — the road to peace remains uncertain and filled with challenges.
For mothers like Leila, the hope is personal and simple: to see her son again, safe and alive. For families like Rondek’s, the conflict has already claimed too much. And for policymakers, the challenge lies in translating symbolic announcements into concrete, lasting peace.
Without official ceasefire agreements, disarmament timelines, and reintegration plans, the announcement remains symbolic. As regional actors continue behind-the-scenes negotiations, the people most affected by the PKK’s long insurgency wait — for justice, for closure, and above all, for peace.
