The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has officially announced the dissolution of its organizational structure and an end to its decades-long armed insurgency against the Turkish state.
The announcement came following the PKK’s 12th Congress, where the group stated it would abandon armed conflict – a significant turn in a struggle that has claimed over 40,000 lives since it began in 1984.
The decision aligns with an earlier appeal from PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999. In February, Ocalan had urged the group to formally disband and renounce violence. His call was soon followed by a ceasefire declaration from PKK leadership, paving the way for this week’s decision.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had hinted over the weekend that a major breakthrough regarding the PKK was imminent, reiterating his administration’s commitment to eradicating terrorism and restoring national peace.
“We are moving forward with determination toward a terror-free Türkiye,” Erdoğan said in a speech on Saturday.
Welcoming the move, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the Turkish leadership and people for this step toward lasting peace and unity. He described it as a “historic development” and a reflection of President Erdoğan’s resolute leadership.
“Pakistan and Türkiye remain firmly united in the fight against terrorism in all its forms,” the Prime Minister stated in a message shared on social media platform X.
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the European Union, originally sought to establish an independent Kurdish state. Its disbandment marks a potential turning point in regional stability and national reconciliation within Türkiye, where Kurds constitute around 20% of the population.
