AK Party Criticizes CHP for Spreading Disinformation About Turkey’s Security Situation

Turkey’s ruling party has accused the opposition of spreading misinformation about the government’s terrorism initiative despite public statements of support, highlighting growing tensions over the disarmament process of the PKK terrorist organization.

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy chair Ahmet Büyükgümüş told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that while the Republican People’s Party (CHP) leadership appears supportive of the terror-free Türkiye initiative, its local branches are actively undermining the effort through disinformation campaigns.

“The CHP’s central administration differs from its local branches, which are spreading lies and disinformation,” Büyükgümüş said. “As the AK Party, we are fighting these lies and defamation.”

The initiative, launched by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, aims to completely disarm the PKK terrorist organization, which has been responsible for tens of thousands of deaths since the 1980s. The PKK has waged a violent campaign in southeastern Turkey under the pretext of establishing a self-styled “Kurdish state.”

Opinion polls indicate broad public support for ending the decades-long conflict, though the disarmament process remains a divisive issue across Turkish society. Critics have characterized the plan as a betrayal of PKK terrorism victims and suggested it represents negotiations with terrorists.

Büyükgümüş specifically refuted one particularly persistent rumor circulating among opposition circles – that Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned PKK leader, would be released as part of the disarmament agreement.

“The release of Öcalan is not on the agenda and not even being discussed,” he emphasized.

The disarmament process began taking shape after Öcalan responded to Bahçeli’s call last year by ordering the PKK to dissolve itself in February. The terrorist organization agreed to dissolution last spring and began the disarmament process, which officials expect to conclude by 2026.

The initiative represents one of the most significant attempts to resolve Turkey’s long-standing security challenges, potentially ending a conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives and cost the country billions in security operations and lost economic opportunities. If successful, it would mark a historic turning point in Turkey’s fight against terrorism.

The AK Party launched an extensive nationwide campaign last summer to explain the initiative to the public. Senior party officials and cabinet ministers traveled to all 81 Turkish provinces to meet with terror victims’ families, NGOs, and community leaders to clarify the plan’s details.

“We explained to the public that this is not a bargaining process and that we are not pursuing this initiative for political interests,” Büyükgümüş stated. The government has consistently maintained that no negotiations with the PKK are taking place regarding the disarmament.

The tensions between Turkey’s major political parties over this initiative reflect the deeply emotional and complex nature of the country’s decades-long struggle with terrorism. While there appears to be broad agreement on the end goal – a terror-free Turkey – the path toward achieving this objective continues to generate significant political friction.

Security analysts note that the success of the disarmament initiative could significantly alter Turkey’s domestic and regional security landscape. It would potentially allow the government to redirect substantial military and economic resources toward development in the country’s southeastern regions, which have been disproportionately affected by the conflict.

As the process continues toward its projected 2026 completion, the government faces the dual challenge of maintaining public support while addressing concerns from victims’ families and skeptics who question whether the PKK will fully comply with disarmament requirements.