Turkey and Iraq Hail PKK Disarmament as Milestone for Regional Peace
Turkey and Iraq welcomed the PKK's symbolic disarmament as a historic step toward peace. While Erdogan praised the move, Baghdad highlighted its potential for regional stability. The challenge now is transforming this gesture into lasting reconciliation.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a rare display of regional alignment, Turkey and Iraq on Friday welcomed the first formal step of disarmament by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters in the Kurdistan Region, describing the event as a crucial turning point for joint stability and long-term reconciliation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the symbolic act—during which PKK fighters burned their weapons near Sulaimani—as a “significant step toward a terror-free Turkey.” His remarks reflect Ankara’s cautious optimism about reviving a stalled peace process.
“I hope that today’s important step toward realizing our goal of a Turkey free of terrorism is blessed,” Erdogan stated, adding, “May God guide us in fulfilling our goals for the safety of our nation and lasting peace in our region.”
Thirty PKK fighters burn weapons near Sulaimani
The event on Friday saw 30 PKK fighters, including women, cast rifles and automatic weapons into a pit and set them ablaze before more than 300 attendees—marking the party’s first public act of disarmament since its May 12 declaration of dissolution.
The PKK, founded by Abdullah Ocalan in the late 1970s, has been locked in a protracted armed conflict with the Turkish state, costing more than 40,000 lives and long casting a shadow over Ankara’s relations with the Kurdish population and neighboring countries.
Friday’s event was a response to a February 27 video message from Ocalan—currently imprisoned on Imrali Island—who called on the movement to abandon armed struggle and engage in political and democratic channels. On March 1, the group announced a unilateral ceasefire.
Baghdad voices full support for disarmament path
In a parallel statement, Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong backing for the PKK’s move to begin laying down arms, describing it as “a significant development that represents a real beginning to the disarmament process.”
The ministry noted that this shift “offers a genuine opportunity to support regional stability and enhance efforts toward permanent reconciliation, helping to end cycles of violence and open new horizons for mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.”
More importantly, Baghdad framed the move as a platform for deeper engagement with Ankara.
“This step paves the way for a new phase of constructive cooperation with our neighbor, the Republic of Turkey,” the statement read, highlighting the prospect of “joint action to address security challenges, thereby reinforcing the sovereignty and stability of both Iraq and Turkey.”
Toward a regional architecture for peace
Friday’s disarmament is the first visible outcome of the PKK’s strategic shift away from militancy, fulfilling a long-standing Turkish demand and providing an opening for enhanced coordination between them.
Iraq’s foreign ministry concluded its message with cautious optimism, expressing hope that “this initiative contributes to turning the page on political, security, and societal tensions, and becomes a Launchpad for a responsible regional dialogue that addresses the roots of crises and promotes security and development for the benefit of all peoples in the region.”
As the disarmament process gains traction, the challenge ahead for both Turkey and Iraq lies in ensuring that this symbolic beginning transforms into a lasting architecture for peace—one rooted in cooperation, security, and shared national interest.
