The London-based Centre for Kurdish Progress wrote to the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regarding the recent declaration by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on 26 October 2025, confirming the complete withdrawal of all its forces from Turkey and adjacent border areas.
“This decision follows a series of non-violent commitments, beginning with Abdullah Öcalan’s February call for dissolution and disarmament, and the PKK’s subsequent May decision to end its four-decade armed struggle. By withdrawing all remaining armed elements that “pose a risk of clashes or are vulnerable to provocations,” the Kurdish side has effectively transformed the conflict from a military to a political domain,” said the Centre for Kurdish Progress, which further stated:
“On 30 October 2025, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with the DEM Party’s senior negotiating delegation — MPs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar — in Ankara. Following the meeting, the DEM delegation announced that they “share a mutual understanding and common ground” with the presidency and had presented proposals for the next steps in the “Peace and Democratic Society Process.” Reports indicate that both sides agreed to pursue concrete measures to consolidate the peace process through political and legal reforms.
This development presents a critical and fragile opportunity for sustainable peace in Turkey after four decades of conflict that claimed more than 40,000 lives. However, its success depends entirely on the political and legal response from Ankara — and the diplomatic engagement of Turkey’s international partners.
In light of the UK’s close relationship with Turkey as a NATO ally and strategic partner, we respectfully request a formal statement from the FCDO outlining the Government’s position and strategy on the following:
The UK Government’s assessment and diplomatic engagement following the PKK’s withdrawal, and how the FCDO intends to support continued dialogue between Ankara and Kurdish representatives;
Encouragement of legal guarantees to ensure Kurdish political actors can safely transition into democratic participation;
Consideration of Abdullah Öcalan’s status and the role his continued isolation plays in the stability and legitimacy of the peace process; and
The UK’s diplomatic response to ongoing repression of Kurdish political figures and Turkey’s non-compliance with European Court of Human Rights rulings, including the case of Selahattin Demirtaş.
The UK has a unique opportunity to support a genuine peace process that could bring long-term stability to Turkey and the wider region. A clear and principled response at this moment would send a strong signal of Britain’s commitment to democratic conflict resolution and human rights.”
In response to the letter, the Mediterranean Department of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated that the UK welcomes recent steps towards peace and security for the people of Turkey: “We encourage all parties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) peace process to engage in a peaceful and constructive process that ensures security, stability and respect for the rule of law. The UK remains committed to supporting efforts that reduce conflict and promote stability both in Turkey, a close NATO ally and longstanding partner in counter-terrorism, and across the wider region.”
The FCDO said they support the rights of all minority groups in Turkey, including the Kurds, and consistently encourage Turkey to uphold the rule of law and to live up to its international obligations as a founding member of the Council of Europe. “As a modern democracy, we expect Turkey to undertake any legal processes against Kurdish politicians or activists fairly, transparently and with full respect for the rule of law.”
“The UK remains concerned about the ongoing detention of Selahattin Demirtaş and continues to call on Turkey to comply with its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, including the implementation of relevant European Court of Human Rights judgments. The UK actively participates in Council of Europe processes to monitor these cases and continues to encourage Turkey to make progress on wider human rights reforms,” the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office underlined.