Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has welcomed the announcement of the dissolution and disarmament of the PKK as a “historic event,” calling it a major breakthrough for Türkiye and the wider region.
During a meeting in Baku with Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, President Aliyev said that the firm resolve of the Turkish leadership, the strength of its state institutions, and the professionalism of the Turkish Armed Forces played a decisive role in bringing the decades-long armed campaign to an end.
Aliyev credited the unity of Turkish society and the consistent fight against terrorism as key forces that pushed the PKK to surrender.
He congratulated the people of Türkiye and its leadership on what he described as a major step forward not only for national security but also for broader regional stability.
The development follows a major shift earlier this year when Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed founder of the PKK, issued a public statement in February calling on the group and its affiliates to lay down arms and dissolve their organizational structure. His call marked a turning point in the group’s more than 40-year insurgency.
The PKK, recognized as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including civilians and children. Its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PYD, has also been linked to regional instability.
President Aliyev emphasized that the disarmament of such a group would have long-term implications for peace, especially in a region long plagued by conflict. He reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s support for Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to secure lasting peace and regional cooperation.
