PKK Responds to Öcalan’s Call and Announces Ceasefire
On Saturday, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared a ceasefire with Turkey, responding to a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan.
The PKK stated that it “will comply with the call of its jailed leader to achieve peace and declare a ceasefire starting Saturday.” The group expressed hope that Ankara would release Öcalan—who has been held in near-total isolation since 1999—to allow him to lead the disarmament process. The PKK emphasized the need for political and democratic conditions to ensure the success of this initiative.
On Thursday, Öcalan issued a call to the PKK to lay down its arms and dissolve itself, a move that could potentially end a conflict with Turkey that has persisted for nearly 40 years. Commenting on the development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday that it marks the beginning of a “new phase.” Erdoğan described it as a “historic opportunity” for progress.
This step could pave the way for fresh peace talks between the PKK and the Turkish government, marking the first such initiative in over a decade.
It is worth noting that the PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States.
