Daily news highlights: A major step toward peace in Turkey might happen soon. The Turkish government has said that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) may begin disarming in just a few days. This is one of the clearest announcements from Ankara about ending the decades-long conflict.
1. Turkey Says Disarmament Could Start Soon
Omer Celik, the spokesperson for Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said that Turkey is very close to a major breakthrough. While he did not give an exact date, he mentioned, “We have reached a stage where disarmament could happen in a matter of days.” Celik also said the next few days are very important to achieve a “terror-free Turkey.”
This statement follows a public call made in February by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who asked the group to stop using weapons and dissolve. Ocalan’s request came after talks led by Devlet Bahceli, an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Bahceli had offered to give Ocalan more personal freedoms if the PKK agreed to disband.
2. PKK Fighters to Lay Down Arms in Iraq
According to people close to the PKK, a small number of fighters will soon give up their weapons in a public ceremony in Iraq’s Sulaimaniyah province, which is part of the Kurdistan Region. However, it is not yet clear who will take the weapons or what will happen to the fighters afterward. They might return to their old mountain bases or find new homes, but this has not been officially decided.
The PKK has had many fighters living in the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq for years. The group has often had a tense relationship with Kurdish officials in the area. Some Kurdish groups are close to Turkey, while others support the PKK’s past fight against the Turkish government.
3. Turkish Officials Travel to Iraq for Talks
On Tuesday, Turkey’s top intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin visited the Kurdistan Region to talk about how to dissolve the PKK. Kalin met with many key leaders, including Masoud Barzani, Nechirvan Barzani, and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. The meetings focused on removing terrorism from the region and making Turkey safe and peaceful again.
Turkey described this effort as part of their “terror-free Turkey” goal, which aims to end PKK violence completely.
4. Kurdish Politicians Call for Legal Reforms
In Turkey, Kurdish politicians say that disarmament must be supported with new laws. Tuncer Bakirhan, co-leader of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, told lawmakers that Turkey’s parliament must act quickly. They want new legal protections and a fair amnesty process for former fighters.
Bakirhan said that if the disarmament is done properly and legally, it could lead to real peace. He also called for better prison conditions for PKK leader Ocalan, who has been jailed since 1999.
“The successful completion of the disarmament process will help build trust and bring people together,” he added.
5. A Long Conflict May Finally End
The PKK is seen as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. The conflict with the PKK has lasted over 40 years and has killed more than 40,000 people. While this week’s planned disarming ceremony may be small and symbolic, it shows a major shift in thinking.
The PKK is moving away from violence and toward peace, and Turkey seems ready to accept this move if the process is smooth and safe for everyone involved.
Daily news highlights: If everything goes as planned in the coming days, this could be one of the most important moments in Turkey’s fight for peace. The next steps—disarmament, legal reforms, and amnesty—will decide if the nation can finally move forward after decades of bloodshed.
