Ankara Welcomes Withdrawal of PKK Fighters from Turkish Territory

The Turkish government on Sunday welcomed the announcement by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) of the withdrawal of its fighters from Turkish territory, describing the move as a positive development in efforts to end a conflict that has persisted for decades.

Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said that Ankara “welcomes the withdrawal of PKK fighters from its lands,” adding that the move “represents a tangible result of ongoing efforts to end a four-decade-long conflict.”

The PKK had earlier announced the withdrawal of its fighters from Turkish soil, calling the decision “a historic step and the beginning of the second phase of the Call for Peace and Democratic Society,” launched by the party’s imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan from his cell in İmralı Prison.

This development comes after months of mutual calls for a ceasefire and the revival of political dialogue, as regional and international actors closely monitor the situation with hopes that this step will pave the way for greater stability within Turkey and across the region.