QANDIL MOUNTAINS,— The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Kurdish militant group that has fought the Turkish state for over 40 years, has officially announced the disbanding of its organizational structure and the conclusion of its armed campaign, according to a statement released Monday by a media outlet close to the group.
The declaration, reported by Firat News Agency, follows a congress held last week in the Qandil Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan (Bashur), where the PKK leadership met to determine the future of its operations.
The group cited instructions from its imprisoned founder, Abdullah Ocalan, who in February called for the organization to cease hostilities and dissolve its military command.
“The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK’s organizational structure and end the method of armed struggle,” the final statement read, describing the decision as a transition toward political engagement.
Founded in 1978 and launching an armed insurgency in 1984, the PKK has been in conflict with Ankara over Kurdish rights and autonomy in Turkish Kurdistan (Bakur), with the decades-long war causing more than 40,000 deaths and imposing a significant economic burden on Turkey.
The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. The group primarily targets Turkish military and government security forces, following a policy to strictly avoid civilians. This approach has led some international organizations to call for a reassessment of the PKK’s designation.
The PKK emphasized in its statement that it considered its mission accomplished. “The PKK has fulfilled its historical role,” the group said. “It has brought international attention to the Kurdish issue and proven that the policy of denial can be challenged. The path forward is through democratic politics.”
The announcement may mark a major turning point for Turkish politics and regional stability in Iraqi Kurdistan and Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), where Kurdish factions have played major roles.
However, it remains unclear how or when the disarmament will be carried out and whether Turkish authorities will recognize Ocalan’s continued involvement.
Abdullah Ocalan, who has been held at the high-security Imrali Island prison south of Istanbul since 1999, reportedly urged the group to end its armed struggle and adopt peaceful political channels.
According to sources familiar with the congress, Ocalan is expected to guide the implementation process, though Ankara has not publicly agreed to his participation.
Omer Celik, spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), called the PKK’s move “an important step toward a Turkey free from terror.” He stressed, however, that the government would carefully monitor the implementation of the declaration to determine its sincerity.
“The full realization of this decision, both in rhetoric and action, will be closely followed. It can become a turning point if genuinely executed,” Celik said during a press briefing in Ankara.
Turkey’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to the statement. The Turkish lira remained stable following the news, trading at 38.765 to the U.S. dollar.
Meanwhile, the main stock index rose by 3%, with analysts attributing the market shift partly to improved investor sentiment following the announcement.
The PKK congress was reportedly convened as a direct response to Ocalan’s appeal, which was made public in late February. Delegates met in a remote region of Iraqi Kurdistan, where the PKK has maintained its main base of operations.
A senior figure from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which holds significant influence in Turkey’s southeast and is the third-largest party in the Turkish parliament, said the decision could open a new chapter in Turkish-Kurdish relations.
“This is not just a milestone for the Kurdish people, but for the broader Middle East,” said Tayip Temel, a deputy chair of the DEM Party. “It also requires a fundamental shift in the Turkish state’s perspective toward the Kurdish issue.”
In Amed (Diyarbakir), the largest Kurdish city in southeastern Turkey, the news was welcomed cautiously by residents.
“This decision means fewer deaths and maybe a chance to finally address our problems through peaceful dialogue,” said Hasan Huseyin Ceylan, a 45-year-old local shopkeeper.
Despite the declaration, it is uncertain what effect the disbandment will have on affiliated groups such as the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which leads the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Ankara has long regarded the YPG as an extension of the PKK, although the YPG has maintained organizational independence and has stated that Ocalan’s PKK disarmament call doesn’t concern Syria’s SDF.
The conflict has spanned multiple Turkish administrations and saw a ceasefire in place between 2013 and 2015, which ultimately collapsed amid renewed violence.
Analysts say this latest move could be a calculated step by the Erdogan administration to bolster political support ahead of future elections.
“This development has the potential to realign Kurdish politics and could be used to fragment the opposition,” said a regional political analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The coming months will be critical in determining whether the announcement leads to genuine reconciliation or simply a pause in hostilities.
(With files from Reuters | AFP | Agencies)
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