Former Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Sönmez Köksal has made striking revelations about Turkey's evolving approach to the PKK and regional politics in an extensive interview published on September 29, 2025. The retired ambassador, who served as MIT chief from 1992-1998, suggested that PKK leaders could eventually participate in Turkish politics following Abdullah Öcalan's recent designation as a "founding leader."
According to the interview conducted by journalist Cansu Çamlıbel for the T24 news outlet, Köksal stated that "after Öcalan has become a 'founding leader,' it's impossible to imagine these people not engaging in politics in Turkey." He specifically mentioned PKK commanders Murat Karayılan, Cemil Bayık, and Bese Hozat as figures who could potentially transition to political roles, noting that "the initial scenario was like this anyway - whether figures like Karayılan, Bayık, and Hozat come to Turkey to engage in politics depends on conditions."
Failed Assassination Attempts and Political Calculations
In a candid admission, Köksal confirmed that during his tenure, MIT was tasked with eliminating Öcalan through operations codenamed "Mercedes" and "Lightning" in 1995 and 1996. He revealed that then-Prime Minister Tansu Çiller's administration envisioned displaying Öcalan in a cage in Istanbul's Taksim Square to win elections.
"Even if the assassination of Öcalan in the 1990s had succeeded, it would have helped someone win elections, but the PKK wouldn't have ended," Köksal explained. "We saw that there were many people capable of leadership behind Öcalan, and some are still alive today."
Parallels Between Hamas and PKK
Drawing controversial parallels, Köksal argued that multiple actors have utilized both Hamas and the PKK for their strategic purposes. "Hamas was used by the Israeli right, just as the PKK has been embraced and used by everyone," he stated, while emphasizing that Hamas differs from the PLO due to its religious ideology and its exploitation by Iran for regional reshaping.
The former intelligence chief noted that organizations often evolve beyond their founders' original intentions, with various parties subsequently claiming and utilizing them for different purposes.
MIT's Transformation Under Current Leadership
Köksal praised the current government's positioning of MIT in state governance, contrasting it with his own era when he worked with different prime ministers each year. He highlighted how the current MIT Chief İbrahim Kalın participates in official state visits and high-level diplomatic meetings, something unthinkable during his tenure.
"I never accompanied anyone on official state visits. We only maintained contact with leaders of secret organizations," Köksal explained, noting the global trend of intelligence services taking more active roles in foreign policy formulation.
Regional Dynamics and Kurdish Relations
Regarding northern Syria, Köksal expressed concern about the YPG's heavy weaponization by the United States, calling it an obstacle to Turkey's internal peace process. He revealed that Turkey missed opportunities to engage with Syrian Kurdish groups before American involvement, attributing delays to the tradition of "sleeping on decisions" inherited from the Ottoman Empire.
The interview also touched on Turkey's evolving relationship with Iraqi Kurdistan, with Köksal taking credit for facilitating initial contacts between Nechirvan Barzani and Turkish military intelligence, which ultimately led to the current strategic partnership.
Breaking Taboos
Commenting on Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli's recent political opening regarding the Kurdish issue, Köksal stated: "Bahçeli broke the taboo. Solutions to such issues begin with breaking taboos. You cannot create politics with taboos."