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In his latest column, Turkish journalist Abdulkadir Selvi reports that Türkiye has entered a new phase following the terrorist organization PKK’s decision to lay down arms and dissolve itself. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan views this development as a historic opportunity, expressing confidence that the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process will be completed peacefully.
“The President believes that a Türkiye free of terrorism will be the greatest legacy he can leave to future generations,” Selvi writes. “So long as no more martyrs are lost, no more children grow up without fathers, and the tears of grieving families are dried—then it is worth everything.”
Türkiye is pursuing this process with both determination and caution. President Erdogan has warned against attempts to sabotage the process, stating, “We are alert to those who want to poison this process. We will not give them the chance.”
Selvi notes that the disarmament process will vary by country. In Türkiye, it is expected to proceed smoothly, as the PKK has already lost the capacity to carry out operations inside the country.
In Iraq, Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) is working closely with the Iraqi government to evacuate PKK camps and manage the surrender of weapons. Selvi states that much of the necessary framework is already in place, and efforts are underway to begin implementation as soon as possible.
Syria, however, poses a more complex situation. Under an agreement between terrorist SDF ringleader Mazloum Abdi and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the PKK and its offshoots are expected to disarm and integrate into the new Syrian administration by the end of the year. Efforts are being made to ensure this process aligns with the disarmament timelines in Türkiye and Iraq.
MIT chief Ibrahim Kalin accompanied President Shara during his recent visit to Türkiye and had also visited Syria earlier. Selvi reports that these visits reflect Türkiye’s active diplomatic engagement to accelerate the process.
Selvi emphasizes the importance of President Sharaa’s surprise visit to Türkiye, which came shortly after he met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Riyadh. The visit followed the U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Syria—a move reportedly influenced by President Erdogan’s request.
Selvi writes that the removal of U.S. and EU sanctions paved the way for renewed aid to Syria. Even regional countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, previously restrained by U.S. restrictions, are now able to assist. On the same day, the U.S. Embassy in Damascus reopened after 13 years.
During their meeting in Istanbul, President Sharaa expressed gratitude to President Erdogan, reportedly thanking him twice. He also conveyed Syria’s interest in benefiting from Türkiye’s experience to support the country’s reconstruction.
Selvi highlights an ongoing internal debate within the PKK terrorist organization. He cites senior PKK terrorist Duran Kalkan, who responded to criticism of the disarmament decision by asking, “Must the Kurdish people spend their entire lives at war? If some people are so fond of war, let them fight themselves.”
According to Selvi, some actors are deeply disturbed by the PKK’s decision to disarm, as it disrupts their strategic calculations. “We are determined to disrupt their plans as well,” he writes.
Selvi noted that one of the key issues discussed during the Erdogan–Sharaa meeting was the PKK terrorist group's disarmament process. Upon returning from a visit to Azerbaijan, President Erdogan said: “SDF terrorists are still employing delaying tactics. This must stop. We are closely monitoring the implementation of the decisions made. Our talks with President Ahmed al-Sharaa focused on this issue, and our dialogue with Syria continues.”
Türkiye aims to manage the disarmament process in each country based on its own dynamics, to complete it by the end of the summer. As Selvi puts it, “For some, there will be no summer vacation this year.”
He concludes by emphasizing the strategic implications of President Sharaa’s visit. Türkiye already has special relations with Azerbaijan and Pakistan, and now, he writes, Syria may soon be joining that circle.
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