Ankara, October 25, 2025: In a landmark announcement that could reshape the political and security landscape of Turkey, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has declared that it will withdraw all its fighters from Turkish territory and relocate them to northern Iraq, signaling what may be the end of one of the world’s longest-running insurgencies.
The PKK, which has been fighting the Turkish state since 1984 for greater Kurdish autonomy, said in a statement that the move is aimed at “avoiding clashes and provocations” and at opening a “new phase for peace” with Ankara.
For decades, the conflict between Turkish forces and the PKK has left deep scars — more than 40,000 people killed, thousands displaced, and entire generations shaped by war across the country’s southeastern provinces.
Turkish officials responded with cautious optimism, calling the withdrawal a “concrete step toward a terror-free Turkey.” However, they emphasized that Ankara would continue to monitor the group’s movements closely to ensure security and compliance with Turkish laws.
The announcement marks a rare moment of calm in a conflict that has flared repeatedly despite multiple ceasefire attempts over the years. Past peace initiatives — including a notable one in 2013 — collapsed amid renewed violence and political tension.
Analysts say this latest decision reflects both regional fatigue from decades of warfare and the shifting dynamics in the Middle East, where Kurdish factions have been recalibrating their strategies amid changing alliances in Syria and Iraq.
For many in Turkey, the news brings cautious hope — the possibility that, after 40 years of bloodshed, the guns might finally fall silent. Yet, in a region where truces are often temporary, few are ready to believe that the conflict is truly over.
