The Turkish government is drafting a military operations plan in case the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) defies the call of its leader, Abdullah Öcalan, and refuses to lay down its arms.
According to Report, the pro-government newspaper Hürriyet cited its own sources in revealing this development.
"If Qandil (PKK camps in northern Iraq) does not disarm, Öcalan will not accept it. After all, the militants would be ignoring their own leadership. Öcalan’s next statement may well be: ‘This Qandil is an American-Israeli project. This PKK is not my PKK; it is the PKK of Israel, Iran, and the United States.’ Preparations are underway for what happens if the PKK disarms, as well as military operation plans in case it does not," the newspaper reported.
The PKK previously declared a ceasefire with Türkiye in response to Öcalan’s call. The group also stated it is willing to convene a congress to discuss disbanding but only if its leader is personally present. Öcalan had earlier urged militants to hold a congress and announce the organization’s dissolution and the disarmament of its armed units.
The PKK emphasized that the ceasefire remains in effect as long as its forces are not attacked. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that if the PKK resorts to stalling or deception, military operations against the group would resume.
According to Hürriyet, Türkiye has outlined a timeline and a "roadmap" for the disarmament process.
"Over the next two to three months, monitoring will take place. Mechanisms will be established in case Qandil decides to disarm. If the PKK lays down its weapons, what will happen to its leaders? Which country will take them in, and where will the weapons be delivered? Mechanisms for this will be put in place. The weapons will be handed over to relevant institutions in Türkiye, in Iraq under the supervision of Türkiye and the Iraqi administration, and to designated locations in Syria under the control of both Syria and Turkey," the newspaper detailed.