PM Barzani Welcomes PKK Disarmament as ‘First Step’ Toward Peace and Stability
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani welcomed the PKK's symbolic disarmament as a positive first step toward peace. He urged all parties to commit to lasting stability, signaling hope for a new era of coexistence in the region.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Friday welcomed the symbolic disarmament of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters, calling it a hopeful first step toward lasting peace.
In a message posted on X, Prime Minister Barzani stated:
“I welcome the peace process and the first step of the PKK laying down arms. I hope that all parties will commit to achieving genuine peace and a new era of coexistence and stability.”
I welcome the peace process and the first step of the PKK laying down arms. I hope that all parties will commit to achieving genuine peace and a new era of coexistence and stability.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) July 11, 2025
Disarmament Ceremony in Jasena Cave
The Prime Minister’s message came shortly after a event in which 30 PKK fighters, including four senior commanders, laid down and burned their weapons in a symbolic disarmament ceremony inside the renowned Jasena Cave, located in the Dukan district of Sulaimani province.
The move came in response to a public call made by imprisoned PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan on February 27, in which he urged his followers to take concrete steps toward peace. The disarmament was widely interpreted as a direct outcome of Ocalan’s appeal and a signal of willingness to shift toward political engagement.
A Turning Point for the Kurdish Question
According to Kurdistan24 correspondent, the presence of high-ranking PKK fighters underscored the seriousness of the group’s intentions. The act has been viewed as a hopeful development and a potential turning point in decades of armed conflict.
