By Abdulsalam Khoja
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Analysts suggest that a peace process between Turkey and the Kurds could boost stability in Syria’s northeast, though doubts remain about Turkey’s commitment. Launching a meaningful peace initiative would rely on mutual understanding and neighborly relations.
Concerns over commitment
Shorash Darwish, a Kurdish political analyst, says that a transparent peace process in Turkey would positively impact northeast Syria. He noted that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and other Kurdish groups support an internal Turkish peace effort.
However, Darwish, who resides in Germany, expressed skepticism about Turkish leaders, noting a lack of concrete steps and accusing Turkish statements from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli of being vague and misleading.
Bahceli’s recent suggestion that PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan could receive parole if he disbands the PKK was met with mixed reactions. Many view this as a bid for internal peace, but Darwish sees it as rhetoric without trust-building measures, warning that Turkey’s talk of peace may mask repressive policies.
Potential for greater autonomy in Northeast Syria
Isaac Indykian, an international relations professor in Washington, argued that a Turkish-Kurdish peace process would ease military pressure on northeast Syria, providing local governance structures with room to address citizens’ needs more effectively.
Indykian added that peace between Turkey and the PKK would calm tensions and support reconstruction efforts, though he acknowledged that substantial challenges remain.
Syrian and Turkish relations
Mustafa Salah, an international relations researcher in Cairo, emphasized that resolving the Kurdish issue could be a security bridge between Syria and Turkey.
He indicated that Turkey’s use of the “Kurdish card” has influenced its military actions in Syria, particularly in areas like Afrin, Ras al-Ain, and Tel Abyad, which Damascus strongly opposes.
A positive peace process could improve Syrian-Turkish relations by reducing military actions that have long harmed local populations.
For years, Turkish forces have conducted military operations in Syria under the guise of national security, impacting both infrastructure and local populations, especially in northern and northeastern areas.