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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday described parliament's passage of a bill aimed at ending decades of conflict with the PKK/KCK as a "historic step," as Ankara paired the domestic measure with new defense partnerships abroad.
The legislation, known as the Terror-Free Türkiye Bill and formally titled the Bill on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Cohesion, was adopted by parliament on Monday.
It lays out procedures for suspending investigations, prosecutions, convictions and related legal proceedings, to take effect once authorities confirm that the PKK/KCK and affiliated groups have ceased their activities and surrendered their weapons.
The bill is the legislative centerpiece of a peace process that gathered momentum after imprisoned terror group PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan called on the group in February 2025 to disband and lay down its arms.
The PKK announced its decision to disarm in May 2025, and in July of that year a small group of fighters symbolically destroyed their weapons at a ceremony in Sulaimaniyah, in Iraq's northern Kurdish region.
The conflict between Türkiye and the PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union, began in 1984 and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.
Turkish officials have said the new law is intended to facilitate disarmament rather than serve as a blanket amnesty, and that it excludes Ocalan, senior PKK leaders and those convicted of aggravated life sentences from its provisions.
Speaking Thursday at the graduation ceremony of the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy in Ankara, Erdogan said realizing the vision of a "Terror-Free Türkiye" and a "Terror-Free Region" carries vital importance for the country.
He framed the bill's passage as part of a broader effort to secure lasting stability both domestically and across the wider region.
Erdogan also said Türkiye is reinforcing its military deterrence through a combination of diplomatic initiatives and strategic partnerships, linking the legislative step to Ankara's wider security posture.
The president's remarks followed the signing of a Joint Defense Agreement by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan at a trilateral summit in Mecca on Friday.
Under the agreement, the three countries pledged to strengthen collective security, deepen defense cooperation, and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.
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