PKK Kurdish militant group ends 40-year war against Turkey
A separatist Kurdish group agreed to lay down arms to end a 40-year war for autonomy against Turkey, a historic step that could strengthen the Nato member's aspirations to become a regional powerhouse.
Advertisement
The PKK decided to disarm and disband at a congress last week, the pro-Kurdish ANF news agency reported Monday, after declaring a ceasefire on March 1.
The group has been affiliated with US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces and the decision could ease tensions between Ankara and Washington over the future of Kurds and power-sharing in Turkey's southeastern neighbour.
'The congress has assessed that PKK struggle has destroyed the policy of rejection and destruction against our people and has led the Kurdish issue to the point of solution via democratic politics, and that in this respect, the PKK has completed its historical mission,' ANF cited a statement from the congress as saying.
A demonstrator holds a picture of jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan during a rally in Diyarbakir, Turkey, in February. File photo: Reuters
It was unclear whether Turkey would offer safe passage for the group's leadership to third countries or declare amnesty for thousands of militants if they return home. The PKK said its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, should lead the political process, according to the statement.
Advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
19 hours ago
- RTHK
Russia says pushing offensive further into Ukraine
Russia says pushing offensive further into Ukraine A road sign marks the entrance to the Dnipropetrovsk region. Photo: AFP Russia said on Sunday it was pushing into Ukraine's eastern industrial Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in its three-year offensive – a significant territorial escalation amid stalled peace talks. Moscow, which has the initiative on the battlefield, has repeatedly refused calls by Ukraine, Europe and US President Donald Trump for a full and unconditional ceasefire. At talks in Istanbul last week it demanded Kyiv pull troops back from the frontline, agree to end all Western arms support and give up on its ambitions to join the Nato military alliance. Dnipropetrovsk is not among the five Ukrainian regions over which Russia has asserted a formal territorial claim. It is an important mining and industrial hub for Ukraine and deeper Russian advances into the region could have a serious knock-on effect for Kyiv's struggling military and economy. Dnipropetrovosk was estimated to have a population of around three million people before Russia launched its offensive. Around one million people lived in the regional capital, Dnipro. Russia's defence ministry said forces from a tank unit had "reached the western border of the Donetsk People's Republic and are continuing to develop an offensive in the Dnipropetrovsk region". The advance of Russian forces into yet another region of Ukraine is both a symbolic and strategic blow to Kyiv's forces afer months of setbacks on the battlefield. There was no immediate response from Ukraine to Russia's statement. Moscow in 2022 said it was annexing the frontline Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporizhzhia regions, which it did not have full control over. In 2014, it seized the Crimean peninsula following a pro-EU revolution in Kyiv. In a set of peace demands issued to Ukraine at the latest talks, it demanded formal recognition that these regions were part of Russia – something Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out. (AFP)
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Thanks to Trump, Russians now see Germany, not US, as most hostile country: survey
Germany is now considered the most hostile country towards Russia, a survey conducted by the independent Moscow-based polling institute Levada showed. The survey found that 55 per cent of respondents named Germany as the most unfriendly state – a 40 percentage point increase since May 2020. In contrast, the United States, which held the top position for two decades, was named by only 40 per cent of respondents, compared to 76 per cent last year. This shift is attributed to the revival of Russian-American relations under US President Donald Trump, the institute said. Germany, however, has faced increasing criticism from the Russian leadership, particularly due to its arms deliveries to Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia. The tone has notably hardened since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office last month. The United Kingdom ranked second among countries perceived as hostile to Russia, with 49 per cent of respondents, followed by Ukraine at 43 per cent. 02:33 Nato kick-starts its largest-ever air force exercise in Germany, but says Russia is not the target Nato kick-starts its largest-ever air force exercise in Germany, but says Russia is not the target The representative survey also asked Russians to name the five countries they associate as having the closest and friendliest relations with Russia.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
US reveals pick for Nato's next supreme allied commander
President Donald Trump 's administration announced on Thursday its nomination for the next top US general in Europe and said the US military officer would also assume the traditional role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (Saceur). Trump's decision to nominate US Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich to both roles, which was first reported by Reuters, will relieve European Nato allies and even some of Trump's fellow Republicans amid concerns about a retrenchment in American military leadership of Nato Grynkewich must be confirmed by the US Senate. The position of Saceur, which oversees all Nato operations in Europe, has been filled by a US general since its creation after World War II. US Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower became the alliance's first Saceur in 1951. Still, since taking office in January, Trump's administration has pressured Nato allies to ramp up their defence spending, saying Europe should be primarily responsible for defence on the European continent. Speaking at Nato headquarters earlier on Thursday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was confident that members of the Nato alliance would agree to a major boost in defence spending. Photo: AP Trump has also said he wants Nato allies to boost investment in defence to 5 per cent of gross domestic product, up from the current target of 2 per cent.
