President Erdogan says PKK disarmament opens “new page in history” for Türkiye
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared “a new page” in history for Türkiye, as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) begins the disarmament process.
“As of yesterday, the 47-year-long terror scourge has entered a phase of ending. Türkiye has begun closing a long, painful chapter filled with anguish and tears,” Erdogan said while addressing members of his ruling Justice and Development Party in Kizilcahamam district, Ankara Province.
On Friday, a group of PKK militants burned their weapons in a symbolic ceremony in Iraq’s northern Sulaymaniyah province.
“From now on, we will sit down and talk — not with weapons or violence, not for conflict, but for unity, fraternity, and face-to-face dialogue by removing the obstacle of terror,” he said.
The disarmament ceremony was attended by representatives from Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization, the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraqi officials, security forces, civil society organizations, and members of the media, according to Türkiye’s semi-official Anadolu Agency.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than four decades.
Türkiye regularly conducts military operations targeting PKK militants in northern Iraq, where the group has its hideouts.
The PKK’s disarmament process is an important and historic step toward ending decades of armed conflict and repeated security violations that have cost countless civilian lives, the Iraqi presidency said.
This development paves the way for a more stable and secure future, strengthening the prospects for peace and constructive cooperation across the region, it read, stressing the importance of full commitment from all sides to uphold security, respect sovereignty and support the legitimate rights of all communities.
The disarmament is also expected to “reinforce bilateral relations between Iraq and Türkiye, built on mutual respect, shared interests and a common vision for regional security and prosperity,” it noted.
Burning the Arms
A group of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants burned their weapons on Friday, in what Türkiye has welcomed as a symbolic and significant step toward disarmament.
Footage from the semi-official Anadolu Agency showed approximately 30 militants — including 15 women — emerging from a cave near the Surdas district in Iraq’s northern Sulaymaniyah province. They formed a line to place AK-47 assault rifles, bandoliers, and other firearms into a large grey cauldron, which was then set ablaze.
Türkiye’s Ruling Justice and Development Party spokesperson Omer Celik described the event as a “critical threshold” in achieving a “terror-free Türkiye.”
“The process of surrender must be completed swiftly. With our president’s determination, this process — carried out as a state project — continues vigilantly against all provocations to achieve its goals,” he said on the social media platform X.
The disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) could usher in a wave of political developments with significant regional repercussions, Turkish analysts have said.
“This isn’t just a Turkish issue,” journalist and PKK expert Mahmut Bozarslan told Xinhua. “It affects northern Iraq, Syria, and even Türkiye’s relations with the United States and Russia. If the PKK fully disarms, it could significantly reduce friction across the entire region,” he pointed out.
Ankara-based political analyst Serkan Demirtas believes that the disarmament effort provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Ankara and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
“A successful transition away from PKK militancy could open the door to deeper security and economic coordination between Iraq’s Kurdish region and Türkiye,” the expert stressed.
One of the most sensitive aspects of the disarmament’s regional impact lies in northern Syria, where PKK-linked groups, particularly the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Syrian Democratic Forces, control large swathes of territory. Ankara views the YPG as the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, and continues to regard it as a military threat.
“Whether or not the YPG responds to Ocalan’s call will be key. If they align with this approach, it may ease Ankara’s concerns and create space for diplomatic solutions,” Bozarslan argued.
Echoing the remarks, Demirtas noted that for the peace process to fully extend to Syria, mutual recognition of security concerns is necessary. “Ankara seeks long-term assurance that the YPG will not pose a threat along its southern border,” he said.
Demirtas added that resolving the PKK issue would remove a major stumbling block in Türkiye’s relations with both its NATO allies and Iraq, and could allow all parties to shift focus toward post-conflict reconstruction and long-term regional stability.
Easing tensions could further promote trade and infrastructure development, particularly in southeast Türkiye and northern Syria, offering new avenues for peace, recovery, and growth, he added.
