Tukiye ( The COW News Digital)In a historic turn for regional peace, Kurdish militants have officially laid down their arms and announced a complete withdrawal from Türkiye, marking a potential end to decades of conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
According to international news agencies, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared on Sunday that it is relocating its remaining fighters from Turkish territory to northern Iraq under the terms of a newly agreed peace and disarmament accord with Ankara.
The announcement comes just months after a symbolic disarmament ceremony held in northern Iraq, where the PKK began the process of surrendering its weapons as part of a broader reconciliation framework. The group, which has waged an armed insurgency against Türkiye since 1984, said it is now committed to ending its military campaign and focusing on political engagement.
During a press conference, a representative from the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) confirmed that all PKK forces stationed in Türkiye are being called back to Iraqi territories to prevent any future clashes or provocations. “This move demonstrates our intent to pursue peace and avoid unnecessary confrontation,” the official stated.
The withdrawal represents a major step forward in implementing the arms reduction and demilitarization agreement, which aims to resolve one of the region’s longest-running conflicts. Over the past four decades, violent clashes between Turkish forces and Kurdish militants have resulted in more than 40,000 deaths, extensive displacement, and widespread destruction in southeastern Türkiye.
Ankara has not yet issued a formal statement but sources close to the Turkish government have described the development as “a positive and constructive step” toward lasting peace. Analysts say Türkiye’s government, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, could see this as an opportunity to stabilize the country’s southeast and strengthen its regional diplomacy, particularly with Iraq and Syria.
Regional experts note that the PKK’s decision may also influence broader Kurdish movements across the Middle East, where similar groups have long sought autonomy. The demobilization could pave the way for international mediation efforts to consolidate peace and reintegrate former fighters into civilian life.
As the last PKK units begin to move out, hopes are rising that Türkiye may finally be entering a new era of coexistence and security, after more than 40 years of armed conflict.
