Jailed Kurdish Leader Abdullah Ocalan Calls for PKK to Disarm and Disband

The historic appeal could potentially end a 40-year conflict with Turkey and reshape dynamics across the Middle East.

Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned founder of the PKK, has urged the group to lay down arms and dissolve itself, marking a significant shift in the decades-long conflict with Turkey.
The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU, and the US, has waged an insurgency since 1984 that has claimed over 40,000 lives and sought Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey.
Ocalan's call follows renewed peace efforts initiated in October by a key ally of Turkish President Erdogan, with potential political incentives for Erdogan's government tied to constitutional reforms and early elections.
The move could have far-reaching implications for Kurdish groups in Iraq and Syria, including potential shifts in the Syrian Democratic Forces' role and alignment in the region.
While the PKK leadership's response remains uncertain, analysts note that Ocalan's influence, despite his imprisonment, could lead to a historic resolution of the conflict.