PKK Declares Ceasefire with Turkey After 40 Years of Conflict

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced a ceasefire with Turkey, marking a significant shift after four decades of armed struggle, Arab News reported. This decision follows a landmark call from jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who urged the group to disband and lay down arms.

In a statement, the PKK’s executive committee expressed their commitment to Ocalan’s vision for peace and a democratic society, declaring the ceasefire effective immediately. The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has been involved in an insurgency since 1984, primarily seeking autonomy for the Kurdish population, which constitutes about 20% of Turkey’s 85 million residents.

Ocalan has been imprisoned since 1999, and previous peace efforts have faltered, particularly after talks collapsed in 2015. Recent developments, including a surprise peace gesture from an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have reignited hopes for a resolution to the long-standing conflict.