PKK declares ceasefire in 40-year conflict with Turkiye

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has announced a ceasefire with Turkey, responding to calls from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, for disarmament. This declaration is viewed as a significant step towards ending the 40-year conflict with Turkey, potentially paving the way for lasting peace.

The pro-PKK Firat News Agency (ANF) released the statement from the outlawed organization on Saturday. The PKK Executive Council stated in the ANF-quoted statement: "In order to pave the way for implementing Leader Apo's (Öcalan's) call for peace and a democratic society, we are announcing a ceasefire starting from today." The council further stated, "We agree with the content of the call and declare that we will adhere to and implement it." The statement added, "Unless attacked, none of our forces will undertake armed action."

On Thursday, Öcalan issued a historic appeal from prison, calling on the party to lay down its arms, disband, and end the decades-long conflict with Turkey. The PKK stated that it wants Ankara to release Öcalan, who has been almost completely isolated since 1999, so that he can lead the disarmament, adding that political and democratic conditions need to be created for the process to succeed. The statement did not specify a timeline for the organization's dissolution, leaving the specifics open to further negotiation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that Turkey would "always keep our iron fist ready in case our outstretched hand is left hanging in the air or is bitten." Speaking at a Ramadan iftar dinner in Istanbul on Saturday, Erdoğan added: "If necessary, we will continue our ongoing (military) operations until we eliminate the last terrorist, leaving no stone unturned, no head uncrushed." The first response to the ceasefire from the government came from Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, who posted on X: "A new stage has been entered in achieving the goal of a Turkey without terrorism. … We hope to seize this opportunity to conclude this effort quickly and successfully."

Erdoğan welcomed Öcalan's call on Friday, calling it a "historic opportunity" for peace. He said Turkey would be "closely watching" to ensure that negotiations to end the conflict "come to a successful conclusion." Erdoğan pledged: "When the pressure of terrorism and weapons is lifted, the space for democratic politics will naturally expand." Turkey's neighbor, Iraq, welcomed Öcalan's call, calling it "a positive and important step towards achieving stability in the region." The PKK's presence in Iraq has been a recurring source of tension between Baghdad and Ankara, as the organization maintains positions in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, where Turkey also maintains military bases and frequently conducts ground and air operations against Kurdish militants.