PKK Declares Ceasefire with Turkey After Decades of Conflict

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced a ceasefire with Turkey, following a historic appeal by its jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, urging the group to disband.

This marks a significant moment in the conflict that has lasted over 40 years, costing more than 40,000 lives.

PKK Responds to Öcalan’s Call for Disarmament

The PKK leadership, based in northern Iraq, issued a statement through the pro-PKK ANF news agency, saying:
“In order to pave the way for the implementation of leader Apo’s call for peace and a democratic society, we are declaring a ceasefire effective from today.”

The group also confirmed that its forces would not engage in armed action unless attacked.

Öcalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, recently called for the PKK’s dissolution after meeting with Turkish officials. His message was relayed by the pro-Kurdish DEM party following several discussions at his island prison.

Conditions for Full Disbandment

While expressing willingness to comply with Öcalan’s request, the PKK has outlined key conditions:

• A secure environment must be established for the congress where the group will officially declare its dissolution.
• Öcalan’s prison conditions must be improved, allowing him to personally oversee the process.
• He must have unrestricted communication with his supporters and legal representatives.

Erdogan Calls Ceasefire a “Historic Opportunity”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has cautiously welcomed the announcement, calling it a “historic opportunity” for peace.

However, his government has continued to tighten its grip on Kurdish political opposition, arresting hundreds of activists, politicians, and journalists since the last round of peace talks collapsed in 2015.

Regional Reactions and Implications

The Iraqi government has welcomed Öcalan’s call, describing it as a “positive step toward regional stability.”

The PKK’s presence in Iraq has long been a source of tension between Baghdad and Ankara. Turkey regularly conducts military operations against PKK strongholds in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, where it also maintains military bases.

With both Turkey and the international community monitoring the situation closely, the success of this ceasefire depends on whether conditions for Öcalan’s involvement are met and whether violence truly subsides.