Tazeen Akhtar
12 May is a big day for Turkish unity, safety and territorial integrity as today the Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK has finally announced its dissolution and thus the Kurdish struggle for a separate homeland in Kurdish populated region of Turkiye will no longer continue. The jailed leader of PKK Abdullah Ocalan had called upon his party, in last February to lay down the arms. Now , it is expected that the Kurdish armed group will soon be disbanded and a conflict that lasted 4 long decades will come to an end.
Kurdish people claim a land for them that should consist of parts of Turkiye, Iraq and Syria. PKK announced the decision after a meeting in Northern Iraq.
Pakistan as close ally of Turkiye has welcomed PKK’s dissolution announcement and termed it as a significant step toward lasting peace and terror free Turkiye. Pakistan is looking forward that the dissolution of PKK will also benefit it in Balochistan’s insurgency. The Baloch separatists find support and encouragement from regional movements including PKK. Both sides discussed this point as well, among other matters in President Erdogan’s recent visit to Pakistan.
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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said, “This historic development reflects the unflinching resolve of the Turkish leadership, under my dear brother President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish nation, to continue their march forward towards reconciliation, unity and stability,” the prime minister posted on X handle.
Together, he further posted Pakistan and Turkiye remained committed to root out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Firat News Agency broke this big news very first on 12 May. It is a media outlet close to the armed group. The news agency shared that the move is the part of a new peace initiative with Ankara designed to end four decades of violence.
According to Firat, the 12th PKK Congress in northern Iraq ended on Friday 09 May, reached “historic” decisions. The statement by Ocalan outlining his “perspectives and proposals” was read during the congress. Today, PKK announced that its armed struggle had successfully challenged policies that sought to suppress Kurdish rights. The statement issued reads further as the PKK has “completed its historical mission. PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK’s organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle”.
Leader of PKK Abdullah Ocalan is jailed since 1999. The struggle has took tens of thousands of lives so far. The group is listed as terrorist org in Turkiye and most of the EU countries. The group expects the announcement will provide a legal base for dialogue with Turkish state on their rights including a legal mechanism for peace talks.
The announcement has not made it clear ” what will be the future of the armed fighters.” It is highly sensitive part of the understanding developed between the parties. Pakistan , one of the worst terrorists hit country like Turkiye is facing the fall out of first pardon then release the armed members of TTP who emerged again in shape of other groups or finding work in other orgs.
The reaction from Iraq, Syria and Iran has not been shared so far. The question is how Turkiye convinced the leader to give the call and what was happening from Feb to May 2025. PKK’s main demand was a separate homeland “Kurdistan” supported by the rival or enemy countries of Turkiye.
