PKK fighters to destroy weapons in goodwill gesture: commanders

SULAIMANI,— Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) are preparing to destroy their weapons as a goodwill gesture, two commanders told AFP, marking a major step in the group’s transition from armed conflict to political negotiation after more than four decades of fighting with Turkey.

The announcement follows the PKK’s May declaration ending its armed campaign, a conflict that has cost more than 40,000 lives since it began in 1984.

The group initially took up arms to demand greater autonomy for Kurds living in Turkey, who constitute nearly 30 percent of the country’s population of 85 million. The decades-long fighting has strained relations between Turkey and its Kurdish population, as well as its neighboring countries.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP, one PKK commander said, “As a gesture of goodwill, a number of fighters involved in recent clashes with Turkish forces will take part in a ceremony to destroy or burn their weapons in the coming days,” Another commander confirmed the plan but declined to provide further details.

The planned weapons destruction ceremony is expected to take place in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region and will include representatives from political parties, local observers, and media.

The commanders have yet to finalize the exact number of fighters involved, the ceremony’s location, or its timing.

In recent months, the PKK has taken several steps toward peace, beginning with a ceasefire and culminating in an official announcement of its dissolution on May 12, 2025.

This shift followed a call by the group’s imprisoned founder, Abdullah Ocalan, who has been held in solitary confinement since 1999 on Imrali Island prison near Istanbul. Ocalan’s appeal, conveyed through a letter, urged the group to end its armed struggle.

One of the commanders said another statement from Ocalan is expected soon.

A delegation from the pro-Kurdish Democracy and Freedom Party (DEM), which has played a key role in facilitating dialogue between Ocalan and the Turkish government, is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next week. The group also plans to visit Ocalan in prison.

For the past decade, many PKK fighters have operated from mountainous areas in Iraqi Kurdistan Region, where Turkey maintains dozens of military bases and frequently carries out operations against Kurdish militants.

Turkish officials have not yet disclosed details about how they will monitor the disarmament but said they intend to oversee the process carefully to ensure full implementation.

(With files from AFP | Reuters | Agencies)