Turkish columnist reports on the dismantling of the PKK terrorist group's camp in Makhmur, Iraq.
The disarmament of the PKK, a Kurdish militant group, is underway in northern Iraq, according to Turkish columnist Abdulkadir Selvi's report. The focus of these efforts is the Makhmur camp, a base for the PKK that has been operating since the 1990s.
Located in Iraq, the Makhmur camp has been used as a breeding ground for the PKK, as per Selvi's report. The camp houses both PKK members and families displaced from Turkish border villages. The evacuation of the Makhmur camp is a significant step in the "terror-free Turkey" process aimed at complete PKK disarmament.
Preparations for the evacuation have begun, and the process is being overseen by a tripartite mechanism involving Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the Kurdish Regional Government, and Iraq's central government. The dismantling of the Makhmur camp is one of the important steps taken in the direction of complete PKK disarmament, according to Selvi's report.
The PKK also controls a civilian camp in Sinjar, but the disarmament efforts are not limited to the Makhmur camp. The PKK has camps in Iraq as well, and Selvi emphasized that the essential goal in the PKK's disarmament process is "to leave the weapons in the minds."
The PKK has publicly committed to disarmament, including symbolic weapons-burning ceremonies near the Turkish border. The latest ceremony took place in July 2025, and the group aims to fully abandon arms by the end of 2025. This marks a historic shift after decades of armed struggle, driven by heavy military losses and reduced operational capabilities.
The disarmament process has led to a dramatic reduction in Turkish military strikes and tensions in the region, including in areas around the Makhmur camp. It is expected to improve stability and open pathways for refugee returns and improved Iraq-Turkey relations.
Although not explicitly detailed in the latest sources, the peace and disarmament process is expected to facilitate the return of refugees from the Makhmur camp as part of broader normalization efforts. The Iraqi government supports the disarmament and calls for Turkish withdrawal from its territory, although Turkish forces are reportedly still establishing new bases in Iraq.
The peace process could remove PKK territorial influence in Kurdish Iraq, a key Kurdish political issue. Disarmament is coupled with a shift from armed struggle to political participation by the PKK, which could lead to improved relations among Turkey, Iraq, and Kurdish factions.
In summary, disarmament efforts are actively underway and progressing in northern Iraq, including near the Makhmur camp, with significant positive impacts anticipated for regional stability, refugee repatriation, and political relations among Turkey, Iraq, and Kurdish factions.
[1] Source 1 [2] Source 2 [3] Source 3 [4] Source 4 [5] Source 5
- The PKK, a Kurdish militant group, has a base in the Makhmur camp in Iraq, a location that has been used as a breeding ground for the PKK, according to Turkish columnist Abdulkadir Selvi's report.
- The Turkish government is focusing on disarming the PKK, with the evacuation of the Makhmur camp being a significant step in the "terror-free Turkey" process, as reported by Selvi.
- The dismantling of the Makhmur camp is being overseen by a tripartite mechanism involving Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the Kurdish Regional Government, and Iraq's central government.
- The PKK also controls a civilian camp in Sinjar, but the disarmament efforts are not limited to the Makhmur camp alone, as the essential goal is to completely disarm the PKK, as per Selvi's report.
- The PKK has publicly committed to disarmament and aims to fully abandon arms by the end of 2025, a historic shift after decades of armed struggle.
- Improved stability, refugee repatriation, and political relations among Turkey, Iraq, and Kurdish factions are expected outcomes of the ongoing disarmament process, as detailed in various sources (1-5).
