The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced on Sunday that it was withdrawing from Türkiye as part of a disarmament process being coordinated with the government, urging Ankara to take concrete steps to advance the initiative.
The PKK, which has fought an armed insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, agreed in May to lay down its arms following a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, to end the conflict that has claimed more than 40,000 lives.
In July, the group designated a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, symbolically burned some of its weapons to demonstrate good faith.
In a statement from northern Iraq, the PKK said it had decided to withdraw all its fighters to create the foundations for a “free, democratic and brotherly life,” as it moves into the next phase of disarmament and integration. The statement reaffirmed the PKK’s commitment to the peace process and called on the Turkish government to take “legal and political” measures without delay, including legislation that would allow the group’s transition into “democratic politics.”
Omer Celik, spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling AK Party, wrote on X that the PKK’s withdrawal represented tangible progress towards the government’s goal of a “terror-free Türkiye” and would help shape the “positive framework” for a parliamentary commission overseeing the legal aspects of the process.
The PKK has long been based in northern Iraq, having been driven from Türkiye’s southeastern border areas in recent years. Türkiye continues to conduct regular air strikes against PKK targets in the region and maintains several military outposts there.
Over time, the PKK’s objectives have shifted from pursuing full independence to seeking greater cultural and political rights for Kurds, along with limited autonomy in Türkiye’s mainly Kurdish southeast.
Ankara insists that Kurdish rights are protected but has made clear it will not tolerate any separatist ambitions. The resolution of Türkiye’s decades-long conflict with the PKK could have far-reaching regional implications, particularly in neighbouring Syria, where U.S.-backed Kurdish forces are viewed by Ankara as an offshoot of the PKK.
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani wa...
Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have surged after the Taliban government accused Islamabad of carrying out an attack that killed m...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (17 March) announced that he is postponing a highly anticipated trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi...
Joseph Kent, head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday (17 March), becoming the most senior official in President Dona...
A series of severe storms, blizzards and tornadoes on Monday disrupted life across much of the U.S., leaving more than 12,500 flights delayed or ca...
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani was killed in Israeli strikes.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have surged after the Taliban government accused Islamabad of carrying out an attack that killed more than 400 people, an allegation Pakistan denies. Here is how the two sides compare in military strength, from troop numbers to nuclear capability.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (17 March) announced that he is postponing a highly anticipated trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, citing the war with Iran as the main disruption to efforts to ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Joseph Kent, head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday (17 March), becoming the most senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration to step down over the war in Iran. Kent cited his opposition to the conflict, stating that Tehran posed no imminent threat.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani was killed in Israeli strikes.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released $2m in emergency funding to support health responses in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria as escalating regional conflict strains hospitals, raises displacement and increases pressure on already fragile health systems.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (17 March) announced that he is postponing a highly anticipated trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, citing the war with Iran as the main disruption to efforts to ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
A series of severe storms, blizzards and tornadoes on Monday disrupted life across much of the U.S., leaving more than 12,500 flights delayed or cancelled and forcing schools, federal offices and communities to take emergency precautions.
China’s international trade representative has said Beijing and Washington have reached a “preliminary consensus” on some key issues following their latest round of talks in Paris, offering a cautious sign of progress in a relationship long marked by tension and uncertainty.
Chile’s newly inaugurated president, José Antonio Kast, has taken his first major step on immigration, launching plans for a fortified barrier along the country’s northern border just days after entering office.
A Russian drone attack damaged industrial, port, and energy infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odesa region overnight. The strikes disrupted power supplies in several settlements, prompting local authorities to switch critical facilities to backup power generators.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment