PKK declare ceasefire after Ocalan's call to disarm

ISTANBUL — The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared a ceasefire on Saturday, following a call from its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan to lay down arms, marking a potential turning point in the decades-long conflict with Turkey.

The announcement, published by the PKK-affiliated Firat News Agency, comes amid sweeping regional changes, including the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad, the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The PKK, which has waged a 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state, vowed that its forces would not take military action unless attacked.

The declaration signals the first sign of progress since peace talks between the group and Ankara collapsed in 2015.

The ceasefire follows a rare public statement from Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999.

On Thursday, a delegation of Kurdish politicians visited him at his prison on Imrali Island and later relayed his message urging the PKK to disband and pursue peace through democratic means.

The PKK leadership framed Ocalan’s call as the beginning of a “new historical process” for the Kurdish movement, while also emphasizing the need for a legitimate political framework to ensure success.

The group also called for Ocalan’s release so he could personally oversee the disarmament process.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Ocalan’s message as a “new phase” in Turkey’s efforts to end the insurgency, stating, “There is an opportunity to take a historic step toward tearing down the wall of terror that has stood between Turkish and Kurdish peoples’ 1,000-year-old brotherhood.”

However, analysts suggest that Erdogan’s government may be motivated by political calculations beyond just securing peace. His far-right coalition partner, Devlet Bahceli, has openly called for a new constitution that could extend Erdogan’s rule beyond 2028. To achieve this, Erdogan and Bahceli are reportedly seeking parliamentary support from the pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM).

Sirri Sureyya Onder, a DEM member who visited Ocalan, hinted at upcoming negotiations, stating, “There will be a series of meetings next week, including state officials and politicians. We hope that everything will be arranged in the next three months.”

Ocalan, despite his decades-long imprisonment, remains a central figure in the Kurdish political landscape.

The PKK’s ceasefire could influence other Kurdish factions, particularly in Syria and Iraq, where Kurdish groups maintain military operations.

The leader of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes PKK-affiliated fighters, clarified that Ocalan’s call does not apply to his forces in Syria, where clashes with Turkish-backed groups continue.

Meanwhile, Turkey insists that all Kurdish groups linked to the PKK—whether in Turkey, Syria, or Iraq—must lay down arms. In recent years, Ankara has intensified military operations against PKK strongholds, pushing the group deeper into northern Iraq with drone strikes and cross-border incursions.

While the PKK’s ceasefire is a notable development, it remains unclear whether Ankara will engage in direct negotiations or if Erdogan’s government will use the moment to consolidate power.

For now, the ceasefire marks a rare moment of de-escalation in a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Whether it leads to lasting peace, however, will depend on political will from both sides—and the broader geopolitical landscape shaping the Kurdish question in the region. — Agencies