ANKARA, Turkey — Negotiations between politicians affiliated with Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party and imprisoned Kurdish leaders are gaining momentum as efforts intensify to resolve a conflict that has persisted for four decades between the state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, commonly referred to as the PKK.

This latest initiative for peace emerges amid growing volatility and significant transformations affecting the region. These shifts include the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the diminishing strength of the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, and a realignment of power dynamics in Syria following the fall of President Bashar Assad.

Initiated in October by Devlet Bahceli, a prominent ultranationalist known for his historic resistance to concessions pertaining to Kurdish rights, this cautious dialogue is viewed as a significant development.

Following the rapid downfall of Assad, aggressive clashes have erupted between groups supported by Turkey and Kurdish factions in northern Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), primarily led by Kurds and controlling northeast Syria for a decade, are currently facing assaults from the Syrian National Army—a coalition of militias acting on behalf of Turkey, which perceives the SDF as a branch of the PKK and is keen to suppress its independence.

Recently, high-ranking members of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) engaged in discussions with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and Selahattin Demirtas, another leading figure of the Kurdish movement. They have also reached out to other political leaders to share insights from their meetings.

Understanding the PKK is crucial; it has conducted an armed revolt against the Turkish government since 1984, initially aiming for a separate Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey. Over the years, its goals have shifted towards seeking autonomy and improved rights for Kurds within Turkey’s borders.

The conflict, which extends beyond Turkey into Iraq and Syria, has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Both Turkey and the United States, along with the European Union, categorize the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Abdullah Ocalan, the founding member of the PKK, emerged from his political activism as a student in Ankara, launching the PKK as a Marxist entity in 1978. After fleeing to Syria in 1979, he remained there until 1998 when he was expelled under pressure from Turkey. Captured in Kenya in 1999, Ocalan has been serving a life sentence on Imrali island in Turkey, following a treason conviction.

Despite his imprisonment, the 75-year-old continues to represent a potent symbol for Kurdish aspirations and possesses influence within the movement. Ocalan’s messages, conveyed through family or lawyers, resonate not only within Turkey but also in Iraq and Syria. In December, his nephew communicated that, under suitable conditions, Ocalan could potentially resolve the ongoing conflict.

In a surprising turn, Bahceli proposed in October that Ocalan might be eligible for parole if he forsakes violence and dismantles the PKK. This represents a significant change for Bahceli, who has traditionally endorsed substantial military actions against the PKK and dismissed negotiation efforts altogether. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to be supportive of Bahceli’s approach.

Responses to this peace initiative are mixed; while some view it as a historic opportunity, others vehemently oppose granting any leniency towards Ocalan or the PKK. Recently, a terrorist attack claimed by the PKK that targeted a key aerospace facility near Ankara, resulting in multiple fatalities, has further complicated the discourse surrounding potential peace talks.

Historically, there have been various attempts to broker peace between the Turkish authorities and the PKK, including secret negotiations in Oslo between 2009 and 2011, all of which ultimately failed. The last meaningful endeavor occurred between 2013 and 2015, marked by talks between Turkish officials and Ocalan, who called for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of PKK fighters to safe zones in northern Iraq.

During this period, the Turkish government initiated measures to enhance Kurdish rights, allowing broadcasting in the Kurdish language. However, the peace process collapsed in mid-2015 after a series of violent incidents, including a heinous attack attributed to the Islamic State that killed 33 pro-Kurdish activists.

In the wake of these events, Turkey has intensified its crackdown on pro-Kurdish sentiments, leading to the imprisonment of thousands, including Demirtas, the former leader of the main pro-Kurdish political faction, over alleged connections to the PKK.

The emergence of this latest peace initiative coincides with shifting security needs for both Turkey and the Kurdish population amid challenges in the Middle East. Nevertheless, some analysts suggest that the primary motivation behind the reconciliation efforts is to secure Kurdish backing for a new constitution that would permit Erdogan to extend his rule beyond 2028, the scheduled end of his presidency.

Bahceli has voiced the urgency for a new constitution, asserting its necessity for Erdogan’s sustained leadership integral to Turkey’s future. Reports indicate that Erdogan and Bahceli are looking to gain parliamentary support from the DEM as part of their strategy.