PKK disbands, ending decades of armed struggle with Turkey

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced its dissolution and the end of its armed struggle after four decades of conflict with Turkey, Arab News reported.

Founded by Abdullah Ocalan in the late 1970s, the PKK’s insurgency since 1984 caused over 40,000 deaths. The group stated it had fulfilled its mission and that the Kurdish issue can now be resolved through democratic politics.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the move historic for regional peace and security. The decision was also welcomed by officials in Syria, Iraq, and the European Union as a crucial step toward resolving the Kurdish issue. Ocalan, imprisoned since 1999, had urged the PKK to disarm and hold a congress to formalize the decision.

The dissolution affects Kurdish fighters in Syria and Iraq, with regional leaders praising the development. Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM party called it a historic opportunity for peace. Although Ocalan is unlikely to be released, his detention conditions may ease.

The move is seen as a political win for President Erdogan, potentially strengthening his position ahead of future elections by dividing the opposition and enabling constitutional changes. Analysts view the rapprochement with the Kurds as linked to Erdogan’s domestic political strategy following recent electoral setbacks.