The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) begins complete withdrawal from Turkey, marking a turning point in a 40-year insurgency that claimed tens of thousands of lives.
Historic Withdrawal Signals New Era in Turkey–Kurdish Relations
QANDIL MOUNTAINS, Iraq — October 26, 2025:
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced on Sunday that it has begun withdrawing all its fighters from Turkey to northern Iraq, solidifying its decision to disarm and disband following decades of armed conflict with the Turkish state.
The move, publicly declared at a ceremony in the Qandil Mountains, the group’s main base, is seen as a major milestone in the Turkey–Kurdish peace process, initiated earlier this year under government oversight.
The PKK’s statement, read by senior leaders in both Kurdish and Turkish, reaffirmed its commitment to a “free, democratic, and brotherly life,” emphasizing that the group seeks to transition from militancy to political participation.
“We are on the path to executing leader Ocalan’s peace project,” a PKK spokesperson said during the event. “Therefore, the other side, Turkey, must carry out political changes and prepare a suitable environment for the project to be implemented.”
PKK’s Commitment to Disarmament and Political Integration
The PKK, which has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, formally renounced its armed struggle in May 2025 following a call for peace from its jailed founder, Abdullah Ocalan.
In a symbolic act of good faith, the group burned several of its weapons in July, signaling its readiness for permanent disarmament. During Sunday’s ceremony, roughly two dozen militants stood in formation before a large portrait of Ocalan, underscoring his continued influence over the movement.
The PKK’s latest declaration also urged Ankara to pave the way for its integration into democratic politics by passing legislation that would enable former fighters to participate in civilian life.
“This step reflects our commitment to the disarmament and integration process,” said Sabri Ok, a member of the KCK Executive Council. “Turkey must now take reciprocal steps through legal reforms that will support our transformation into democratic actors.”
Ankara Welcomes Move as a ‘Positive Step Toward Peace’
In response, Omer Celik, spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, welcomed the PKK’s decision, calling it a “concrete result of the government’s terror-free Turkey goal.”
Celik added that the move would help shape a “positive framework” for future discussions within a parliamentary commission tasked with managing the legal and political dimensions of the peace process.
“The PKK’s withdrawal decision supports the government’s objective of establishing lasting peace and stability,” Celik said on social media platform X.
Background: A Four-Decade Conflict Nears Its End
Founded in 1978, the PKK launched its armed insurgency in 1984, initially seeking an independent Kurdish state. Over the years, its goals evolved toward greater Kurdish rights and autonomy within Turkey’s existing borders.
The conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives, predominantly in Turkey’s southeastern provinces, and deeply shaped the country’s domestic and regional policies.
Following sustained military pressure, the PKK was largely pushed out of Turkey and into northern Iraq, where it maintains fortified bases despite regular Turkish airstrikes and cross-border operations.
Regional Implications and the Path Ahead
Analysts say the PKK’s disarmament could have wide-reaching geopolitical effects, particularly in Syria, where Kurdish militias—many with ideological ties to the PKK—play a key role in the ongoing U.S.-backed campaign against ISIS.
If the peace process succeeds, it could ease tensions between Ankara and Kurdish-led entities across the region, while strengthening Turkey’s influence in northern Iraq and Syria.
However, challenges remain. The PKK insists that Ocalan’s release and formal legal guarantees for former combatants are essential to ensuring a sustainable peace.
“We have laid down our weapons and stepped toward democracy,” the PKK statement concluded. “Now, Turkey must fulfill its responsibility to make peace irreversible.”
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