The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced on Sunday that it is withdrawing its militants from Turkey as part of a disarmament process coordinated with the Turkish government. This decision comes after a call from its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to end the armed struggle that has been ongoing since 1984, claiming over 40,000 lives. In July, the PKK burned some of its weapons as a sign of goodwill.
During an event in the Qandil Mountains, the PKK stated that its withdrawal aims to establish a “free, democratic and brotherly life. ” It emphasized that the Turkish government should now facilitate its shift to “democratic politics” by implementing integration laws. The group’s spokesperson, Zagros Hiwa, highlighted the importance of political changes in Turkey to support this peace initiative.
In response, Omer Celik, a spokesperson for President Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, described the PKK’s decision as a positive step towards achieving a “terror-free Turkey” and shaping a supportive legal framework. The PKK has been based in northern Iraq after being pushed out of Turkey, and Turkey regularly targets its bases there while asserting that it protects Kurdish rights without allowing for separatism. The resolution of conflict with the PKK may impact regional dynamics, especially in neighboring Syria.
With information from Reuters
