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 the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese...
Southeast Asia remains the epicentre of scam centres running illegal online fraud schemes that target victims worldwide and generate billions of dolla...
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the ...
President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese president Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran while Tehran continues to target Gulf countries.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 21 July covered the latest escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, rising trade tensions between the United States and Canada, and key regional and international developments.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for setting up a foolproof public examination system in the country on Tuesday, a day after supporters of the youth-led "cockroach" movement and police clashed as they marched on parliament to protest against question paper leaks.
Lebanese army troops have begun deploying in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, marking the first major step in a U.S.-brokered plan to reduce tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Spain are world champions for the second time after Ferran Torres' extra-time winner secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Southeast Asia remains the epicentre of scam centres running illegal online fraud schemes that target victims worldwide and generate billions of dollars annually. The UN estimates scam losses across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand reached up to $114.1 billion in 2025.
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the Caspian Sea rather than through the Indian Ocean.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chaired his first Cabinet meeting, pledging to make the cost of living his government's central priority while signalling a broader effort to restore confidence in Britain's government and strengthen its international standing.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process during talks in Berlin.
Russian strikes hit multiple locations across Ukraine, setting a large hardware store ablaze in the northeastern city of Sumy and damaging a residential building in the country's east, as fighting between the two sides continued to intensify.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment