Kurdish PKK to withdraw its fighters from Turkiye to Iraq

ANI
27 Oct 2025, 07:01 GMT+10

Ankara [Turkiye], October 27 (ANI): The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has announced withdrawal of all its forces from Turkiye to northern Iraq as part of the peace process, bringing an end to a months-long disarmament process, Al Jazeera reported.

'We are implementing the withdrawal of all our forces within Turkiye,' the Kurdish PKK said in a statement read out on Sunday in the Qandil area of northern Iraq, according to an AFP journalist present there.

The PKK also released a picture showing 25 fighters - among them eight women - who had already travelled there from Turkiye.

A spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party posted on X that the PKK's announcement falls within the framework of the 'Terrorism-Free Turkiye process.'

The PKK, which formally renounced its 40-year armed struggle in May, is currently making the transition from armed rebellion to democratic politics in a bid to end one of the region's longest conflicts, which killed some 50,000 people, as per Reuters.

The PKK, however, urged Turkiye to take necessary steps to bring forward the process, which began a year ago. The group has said it wants to pursue a democratic struggle to defend the rights of the Kurdish minority in line with a historic call by Ocalan.

In July, the group held a symbolic ceremony in the mountains of northern Iraq, at which it destroyed a first batch of weapons, which was hailed by Turkiye as 'an irreversible turning point'. (ANI)

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Arab Herald.

More Information

Muslim

Section

"No one can compete with us": JJD chief Tej Pratap Yadav ahead of Bihar polls

Patna (Bihar) [India], October 27 (ANI): Janshakti Janata Dal Chief Tej Pratap Yadav exudes confidence, saying he is receiving support...

Afghanistan demands Pakistan stop violations of its land and air border in draft peace proposal

Istanbul [Turkiye], October 27 (ANI): After about 15 hours of discussions, the delegations of Afghanistan and Pakistan have presented...

"There are many dead, fake voters; voter lists must be prepared correctly": Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari on SIR

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 27 (ANI): West Bengal's Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has raised concerns about the...

"PM is coming to cheat Bihar": Tejashwi Yadav on PM Modi's visit to poll-bound state

Patna (Bihar) [India], October 27 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Mahagathbandhan's Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi...

"Pakistan has always treated Afghanistan as fiefdom", says former diplomat on recent border skirmishes

New Delhi [India], October 26 (ANI): Former Indian diplomat Yash Sinha said that Pakistan has always treated Afghanistan as if it were...

"Frankenstein that Pakistan created in 80s and '90s is now coming back," says former diplomat

New Delhi [India], October 26 (ANI): Former Indian diplomat Yash Sinha on Sunday said that it was ironical how Pakistan portrays itself...

Middle East

Section