Türkiye reportedly outlines six-step roadmap for future without terrorism

The Turkish government has outlined a structured process to ensure a transition to a “terror-free Türkiye,” following terrorist organization PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan’s call for the organization to disarm and dissolve according to a report by Türkiye daily.

High-level security officials have emphasized that the disarmament statement was carefully formulated to avoid conditions or ambiguous language that could be subject to manipulation.

Ocalan, the jailed ringleader of the PKK terrorist group, issued his long-awaited statement on Thursday, urging the PKK to lay down arms and end its fight against the state of Türkiye.

The announcement follows weeks of speculation after multiple visits by officials from Türkiye’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) to Imrali Island, where Ocalan has been serving a life sentence since his capture in Kenya in 1999.

Government oversight in the process

According to sources, significant communication took place between state security institutions and Imrali before Ocalan’s message was finalized.

The final text was completed on February 25, written by Ocalan himself, and was designed to be unequivocal, avoiding any phrasing that could be exploited by the PKK.

The Turkish government had prior knowledge of the announcement, and security sources view it as a major turning point. “Ocalan is not only burying the PKK’s weapons but also its ideology,” a senior security official stated.

Recording and monitoring of the announcement

The announcement was delivered in a highly controlled environment.

A delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party visited Imrali to receive the message, with two separate cameras recording the meeting. Ocalan read the declaration himself, ensuring clarity and authenticity.

Security officials emphasized that the call includes all PKK affiliates and offshoots.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the E.U., has waged a 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and the elderly.

The YPG is the PKK’s affiliate in Syria.

Next step: A structured timeline

Security sources have detailed a six-step process for the coming months:

• Terrorist organization PKK is expected to convene a congress to formally dissolve itself.
• The state will observe this process without making any commitments until the dissolution is confirmed.
• The transition phase is expected to last three to four months, with a potential shift to the next stage by June.
• Imrali visits will continue as part of this period.
• Following the official dissolution, technical aspects will be addressed, including:
  • The fate of PKK-held weapons.
  • Registration of surrendered arms.
  • The potential relocation of senior PKK ringleaders to third countries.
  • The legal status of members without criminal records or involvement in violent acts.

Potential policy discussions post-dissolution

Once the process is complete, discussions on broader political reforms under the framework of “democratic transformation” could be initiated in parliament, according to sources within the ruling AK Party speaking to Türkiye Daily.

Security measures to continue

Despite the disarmament process, counterterrorism operations will not be suspended. Authorities have outlined contingency plans for potential disruptions or provocations.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to address the issue in an upcoming meeting with the families of fallen soldiers, reaffirming that no measures will be taken that could be interpreted as clemency for Ocalan.

Recently the President Erdogan publicly addressed PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan’s recent call for the terrorist organization to disarm and dissolve.

Erdogan thanked Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli for initiating the process, saying, “As of yesterday, the efforts for a terror-free Türkiye have entered a new phase. We now have a historic opportunity to take a step towards the goal of demolishing the wall of terrorism that has been built between our thousand-year-old brotherhood.”

He added, “The winner of a terror-free Türkiye will be all 85 million people, regardless of being Turkish, Kurdish, Arab, Alevi, Sunni, or conservative oppositional.”