The conflict, which began in 1984, has led to tens of thousands of deaths. The ceasefire is the first sign of an end to the conflict since peace talks between the PKK and Ankara broke down in the summer of 2015.
Kurdish militants have declared a ceasefire in their 40-year conflict with Turkey, two days after their imprisoned leader called for the group to disarm.
The statement from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) was published on Saturday by the Firat News Agency, a media outlet which is close to the group.
Referring to its leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been in prison for almost three decades, the group said: “We declare a ceasefire effective today to pave the way for the implementation of Leader Apo’s call for peace and democratic society.
“None of our forces will take armed action unless attacked.”
While some have welcomed the move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of dire consequences if militants fail to keep their promises.
Mr Erdogan was speaking on Saturday at a fast-breaking event with martyr families in Istanbul on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
He vowed that “if needed”, Turkish anti-terrorist forces will “keep up our operations – which are still continuing – leaving no stone standing and leaving no heads on shoulders, until every last terrorist is eliminated”.
Ocalan had previously called for the PKK to lay down its arms. The 75-year-old continues to have significant influence over the PKK, despite having been imprisoned in 1999 after he was convicted of treason.
The conflict, which began in 1984, has seen the PKK wage an insurgency in the hope of carving out a homeland for the Kurds in an area straddling the borders of southeastern Turkey, northern Syria and Iraq, and part of Iran.
Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict. In October last year, five people died in a terror attack on a defence company headquarters, which the Turkish government blamed on the PKK.
The group is proscribed as a terror organisation by Western nations, including the US and UK, as well as the European Union.
The ceasefire is the first sign of an end to the conflict since peace talks between the PKK and Ankara broke down in the summer of 2015.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/kurdish-militants-declare-ceasefire-in-40-year-conflict-13319108
