Ahmet Türk Hails PKK Disarmament as ‘Very Big Step’ Toward Peace
Veteran Kurdish leader Ahmet Türk hailed the PKK’s disarmament as a major step toward peace, urging Türkiye to act reciprocally. He praised Öcalan’s shift to dialogue and President Barzani’s support, telling Kurdistan24 the Kurdish issue must be resolved through democratic means.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk described the symbolic disarmament of PKK fighters on Friday as a “very big step” and expressed hope that the Kurdish issue in Türkiye will be resolved through peaceful dialogue.
“We are happy to see the Kurdish issue progressing through peace, and we hope a democratic policy will be implemented in Türkiye and the Middle East,” Türk told Kurdistan 24 on Friday.
The remarks came after 30 PKK fighters burned their weapons in the village of Jasana near Sulaimani in a move signaling the beginning of a broader disarmament process. The event marks a major shift in the decades-long conflict between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish state.
“Today is a new beginning. Abdullah Öcalan and the PKK decided to resolve the Kurdish issue through politics and dialogue,” Türk said. “Peace cannot be achieved by one side alone; both sides must work on it.”
He emphasized that the success of the process depends on reciprocal action. “If Türkiye does not take practical steps for this process, tensions will increase,” he cautioned.
Türk also praised President Masoud Barzani for his role in promoting peace. “President Barzani has contributed greatly to the resolution of the Kurdish issue and the peace process,” he stated.
According to Türk, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan now believes that the long-standing conflict has yielded no benefits for either side. “He has not set any conditions for his release; he even says, ‘I will stay here,’” Türk noted, referring to Öcalan’s continued imprisonment.
The statements underline growing momentum around political engagement as a solution to the Kurdish question in Türkiye, amid an evolving regional approach to long-standing grievances and armed resistance.
