Urgent call for PKK to hasten demilitarization and disbandment

In a significant development for Turkey, the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission has been established with Numan Kurtulmus at its helm. The commission was set up following the PKK's announcement of its decision to dissolve, marking a potential turning point in the country's long-standing conflict.

The PKK, a recognised terror group in Turkey, has made symbolic gestures of disarmament, but the complete dissolution and end of its armed struggle occurred in May 2025. However, the exact timetable for the full completion of the "terror-free Türkiye" project or the planned conclusion date for the work of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission is not yet publicly stated.

Kurtulmus, the commission's head, emphasises the importance of eliminating all elements behind terrorism and drying up the swamp that sustains it. He believes the anti-terrorism process may be completed well before the end of 2025, but no fixed date can be guaranteed.

The commission's work may be extended beyond Dec. 31 if necessary. Decisions in the commission are being made with a qualified majority, often above the two-thirds threshold.

Kurtulmus has praised the commission's inclusive structure, which includes all political parties in the parliament except the İYI Party. He frames the effort as a historic opportunity for Türkiye and the Middle East, stressing the importance of public trust and political responsibility in ensuring no setbacks derail the process.

Eliminating terrorism, according to Kurtulmus, requires more than symbolic steps. It demands uprooting the deeper systemic factors. He encourages the PKK to speed up its process of disarming and dissolving itself, emphasising that for this to happen, the PKK needs to hasten its dissolution.

The completion of this process can pave the way to a "terror-free Türkiye" and potentially a broader peace across Syria, Iraq, and the region. Kurtulmus views this as a significant step towards regional stability and security.

The parliament has set Dec. 31 as the current target for concluding the commission's work, subject to possible extension if needed. As the commission continues its work, the hope for a peaceful and secure future for Türkiye and the wider Middle East remains a shared aspiration.

Urgent call for PKK to hasten demilitarization and disbandment