Istanbul: The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Kurdish militant group that has led a four-decade-long insurgency against Türkiye, has officially declared its disbandment.
The announcement was made following a congress held in northern Iraq, where the PKK is based, and was reported by the Firat News Agency, a media outlet linked to the group.
The PKK, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, the European Union, and Australia, stated that it had completed its "historic mission." The group, which initially sought an independent Kurdish state but later shifted to advocating for Kurdish rights and autonomy, declared that its struggle had brought the Kurdish issue to the forefront of democratic politics.
This decision aligns with the appeal of the PKK’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who reportedly supported the disbandment as part of a potential agreement with the Turkish government aimed at securing his release. The PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire on March 1, with conditions including the establishment of a legal framework for peace negotiations.
However, the specifics of the disarmament process, the fate of PKK fighters, and any concessions from the Turkish government remain unclear. The PKK has not disclosed how its fighters will be disarmed or whether they will be relocated to third countries.
Ömer Çelik, a spokesperson for President Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), hailed the PKK’s decision as "an important step toward a terror-free Türkiye." He suggested that the disbandment could pave the way for greater development in Türkiye’s predominantly Kurdish southeast, which has been severely affected by the conflict.
The PKK insurgency has claimed an estimated 40,000 lives and has destabilized regions in eastern Türkiye, northern Iraq, and northern Syria. The group’s decision to dissolve comes against a backdrop of significant regional changes, including shifts in Syria, the weakening of Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon, and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Tayip Temel, deputy co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Regions Party (DBP), described the PKK’s decision as a turning point, urging Türkiye to adopt a more democratic and inclusive approach toward the Kurdish issue. "This move could lead to a fundamental change in the state’s approach to Kurdish rights," he said.
