PKK declares landmark ceasefire with Türkiye
Published: 06:03 PM,Mar 01,2025 | EDITED : 10:03 PM,Mar 01,2025
A supporter flashes a victory sign after leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan called on to disarm, in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkiye. — AFP
ISTANBUL: Outlawed Kurdish militants on Saturday declared a ceasefire with Türkiye following a landmark call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan asking the group to disband and end more than four decades of struggle. It was the first reaction from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) after Ocalan this week called for the dissolution of the group and asked it to lay down arms. 'In order to pave the way for the implementation of leader Apo's call for peace and democratic society, we are declaring a ceasefire effective from today,' the PKK executive committee said.
'We agree with the content of the call as it is and we say that we will follow and implement it,' the committee based in northern Iraq said. 'None of our forces will take armed action unless attacked,' it added. The PKK said on Saturday it was ready to convene a congress as Ocalan wanted but 'for this to happen, a suitable secure environment must be created' and Ocalan 'must personally direct and lead it for the success of the congress'. — AFP
'We agree with the content of the call as it is and we say that we will follow and implement it,' the committee based in northern Iraq said. 'None of our forces will take armed action unless attacked,' it added. The PKK said on Saturday it was ready to convene a congress as Ocalan wanted but 'for this to happen, a suitable secure environment must be created' and Ocalan 'must personally direct and lead it for the success of the congress'. — AFP