Latest news with #armedstruggle
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Türkiye Says in Talks with Baghdad, Erbil on PKK Weapons Handover
Türkiye is in talks with authorities in Baghdad and in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil on how Kurdish militants of the PKK will hand over their weapons, President Tayyip Erdogan said following the group's decision to disband. "Talks are being held with our neighbouring countries on how the weapons of terrorists outside our borders will be handed over," Erdogan said, according to a transcript of remarks he made to journalists on his return flight from Albania overnight. "There are plans regarding how the Baghdad and Erbil administrations will take part in this process," he added. The PKK , which has been locked in bloody conflict with Türkiye for more than four decades, has decided to disband and end its armed struggle, group members and Turkish leaders said earlier this week on Monday.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kurdish PKK militia to disband for Turkey talks
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said Monday that it will disband and disarm after four decades of armed conflict with Turkey. The decision was announced through the Firat News Agency, a media outlet close to the PKK, after a party congress in northern Iraq. Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called for his group to disband in February, and the PKK declared a ceasefire March 1, on condition that Turkey create a legal framework for peace talks. "The PKK has completed its historic mission" and "decided to dissolve" its "organizational structure" and "end the armed struggle," the group said in a statement Monday morning. The decision "promises to put an end to one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East," The Associated Press said. It should have "far-reaching political and security consequences for the region, including in neighboring Iraq and also in Syria, where Kurdish forces are allied with U.S. forces," Reuters said. The insurgency, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives since 1984, also "handicapped the regional economy for decades." Omer Celik, a spokesperson for Turkey's ruling AK Party, said the PKK's decision was an "important step toward a terror-free Turkey." "Details of the peace initiative have not been made public," including what will happen to the PKK's fighters, "how weapons would be disposed of and who would monitor" the process, the AP said. "Previous peace efforts between Turkey and the group — most recently in 2015 — have ended with failure."
Reuters
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Families in Turkey await news of loved ones as Kurdish insurgency ends
DIYARBAKIR, May 12 (Reuters) - Hours after the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced it was disbanding its armed wing, families gathered outside an office in the Turkish city of Diyarbakir, many with tears in their eyes and photos in their hands. Some talked about the chances for peace, but many had more pressing personal concerns - the children and other loved ones who had left to join the armed struggle over the decades who they hoped and prayed might now be able to come home. "I haven't seen my son in 10 years," said Sevgi Cagmar, whose son was 19 when he joined the PKK. "I stayed awake for nights waiting for this news. If he comes back, the world will be mine." Cagmar joined scores of other relatives waiting for news at the office run by the pro-Kurdish DEM Party in the largest city in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast. All held out the hope that their relatives and friends would return - families usually get information if someone has died. Hatice Levent clutched an image of her daughter Fadime who she believes joined the PKK 11 years ago when she was a university student. She accused the DEM of helping to arrange her daughter's departure. "They stole her dreams, our future. I just want to hug her again. I'm waiting with open arms," Levent said. She thanked Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan for launching what she hopes is a final peace effort. There have been many reports of PKK militants losing touch with their families for years. Much of the fighting in the past was focused in the rural areas of southeast Turkey. But the conflict has since mainly moved to northern Iraq, where the PKK has bases in the mountains. Turkey has dozens of outposts in Iraqi territory and monitors its border with Iraq to stop people crossing back over. "This war must end. Soldiers, police the ones in the mountains — all of them are our children," said Sultan Guger, whose son joined the PKK 10 years ago. "Brother has killed brother. We don't want any more pain." In other cities in the region, people greeted the news with cautious hope - welcoming the chance of peace, but fearful of the future after more than 40 years of conflict. "The PKK was an organization that brought Kurdish issues to the forefront," said Ihsan Ergiz from the southeastern city of Batman. "If democratic rights are finally granted, disbanding is natural. It will be better for our country." "Laying down arms is good, but we don't know what comes next," said a resident of Diyarbakir who did not give their name. "Will prisoners be released? We can't see the full picture."
LBCI
12-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Kurdish PKK disbands and ends Turkey insurgency: PKK-linked agency
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has been locked in bloody conflict with the Turkish state for more than four decades, decided to disband and end its armed struggle, a news agency close to the group reported Monday. The PKK decision is set to have far-reaching political and security consequences for the region, including in neighboring Iraq and also in Syria, where Kurdish forces are allied with U.S. forces. "The PKK has completed its historic mission," the group said, according to the Firat news agency, which published what it said was the closing declaration of a congress that the PKK held last week in northern Iraq where it is based. The PKK held the congress in response to a call in February from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to disband. "The PKK 12th Congress decided to dissolve the PKK'S organizational structure, with the practical process to be managed and carried out by Leader Apo, and to end the armed struggle method," the statement said, using Ocalan's nickname. Reuters
News24
12-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
Turkey's PKK ends armed struggles, dissolves itself, following call from jailed leader
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced on Monday its dissolution and the end of more than four decades of armed struggle against the Turkish state, the pro-Kurd ANF news agency reported. 'The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK's organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle,' the group announced in a statement after holding its congress last week. The PKK's announcement to dissolve itself heeds a call by its founder Abdullah Ocalan, jailed in an island off Istanbul since 1999, who urged his fighters in February to disarm and disband. In a letter, Ocalan urged the PKK to hold a congress to formalise the decision. Days later, the PKK's leadership accepted Ocalan's call, declaring a ceasefire. In a speech on Saturday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted that news about a dissolution could come at any moment, adding that his government was determined to 'save our country from the scourge of terrorism'. We are advancing with firm steps on the path to the goal of a terror-free Turkey. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the US and the European Union, has waged an insurgency since 1984. Its original aim was to carve out a homeland for Kurds, who make up about 20% of Turkey's 85 million people. Since Ocalan was jailed there have been various attempts to end the bloodshed, which has cost more than 40 000 lives.
