Tue May 13 15:05:35 IST 2025: ## PKK Announces End to Armed Rebellion Against Turkey, Citing Shift in Political Landscape

**Northern Iraq** – The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has declared an end to its four-decade-long armed struggle against the Turkish state. The announcement, made after a PKK congress in northern Iraq on Friday, follows imprisoned PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan’s call for disarmament in February.

Ocalan, revered by many Kurds as “Appo” (Uncle), has spearheaded peace efforts from his prison cell. The PKK, long designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the EU, and the US, fought for Kurdish autonomy.

The group states it has “completed its historical mission” of securing Kurdish rights. Analysts suggest the decision is influenced by a changing international context, including reduced US support for Kurdish groups in Syria and improved relations between Turkey and the Syrian government.

Notably, Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), previously staunchly opposed to any peace process with the Kurds, has invited Ocalan to renounce terrorism before parliament, possibly to bolster President Erdogan’s chances of re-election.

The conflict between the PKK and Turkey has claimed over 40,000 lives since 1984. While the future of Ocalan’s imprisonment remains uncertain, analysts suggest the government may gradually improve his conditions to gauge public reaction. His influence remains strong among many Kurds, but he is still viewed as a terrorist by many in Turkey.

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