Context: Recently Abdullah Ocalan, founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has called on the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve the organisation. This ceasefire with Turkiye marks a major shift in Kurdish politics.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Geographical Location of Kurdistan, About PKK.
What is Kurdistan?
- Kurdistan is a geographical and cultural region that represents the historical homeland of the Kurds.
- Traditionally, the Kurds were spread across Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Armenia, however, Kurdistan is not recognised as an independent state.
History of Kurdish People:
- Kurdish people are an ethnic-group living in the Zagros mountain range (which spans Iran, northern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey) and surrounding areas.
- Traditionally, Kurds were nomads, and later settled into tribal communities under the Ottoman and Persian empires. They were soldiers, merchants, and local rulers in these empires.
- During the Ottoman era, Kurds initially had autonomy in the guise of semi-autonomous emirates. But Ottoman efforts at centralisation in the 19th-century undermined Kurdish self-governance.
- Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the Kurds attempted to create their own state but were opposed by both global and regional powers.
- In spite of various uprisings and movements, they could not come together under one political umbrella, thereby preventing the creation of an independent Kurdistan.
Why were Kurds unable to form a separate state?
- Tribal and linguistic divisions: Kurdish population is divided into multiple tribes, dialects, and religious sects (Sunni, Shia, Alevi Kurds). These internal divisions made political unity difficult.
- Lack of unified leadership: Kurds lacked centralised leadership to negotiate a separate state. Different tribal chiefs prioritised their own power over collective Kurdish identity.
- Geopolitical resistance: Countries with large Kurdish populations (Turkiye, Iran, Iraq, Syria) strongly opposed Kurdish independence. These states feared that recognising Kurdish rights could lead to territorial fragmentation.
- Strategic and economic importance of Kurdish lands: Kurdish regions are rich in oil and natural resources. Iraq, Turkey, and Iran depend on these resources, making them reluctant to lose control.
Treaty of Sevres (1920)
- It was signed in 1920 by the Ottoman Empire and Allied Powers.
- It was the first treaty to recognise Kurdish autonomy and offered a plan for local self-rule to be prepared within six months. It gave an option for Kurds in Mosul Vilayet (British-controlled Iraq) to voluntarily join an independent Kurdistan.
Why did the Kurds fail to benefit from the Treaty?
- Many Kurdish tribal chiefs rejected the proposal because they feared British control over the new Kurdish state, and they wanted to remain part of the Muslim Ottoman Empire rather than align with Western powers.
- Treaty of Sevres was never implemented because the Ottoman Empire collapsed, and the newly formed Turkish Republic opposed it.
About Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK):
- In 1978, Abdullah Ocalan founded the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a Marxist-Leninist organisation.
- PKK aimed to establish an independent Kurdish state through armed struggle. It targeted the Turkish government and Kurdish elites who collaborated with Turkey.
- PKK formed alliances with Kurdish groups in neighbouring countries: PYD in Syria, PJAK in Iran, PCDK in Iraq. These groups coordinated efforts under the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK).
- During the Syrian Civil War (2012), the PKK’s Syrian branch (the YPG) became a key player, forming the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
International stance on the PKK:
- Turkey, US, and the European Union have labeled the PKK as a terrorist organisation.
- Russia does not recognise PKK as a terrorist organisation. Historically, Russia has provided training and support to the PKK through its Soviet Allies.