Sulaymaniyah: The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is set to begin handing over its weapons today in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, this move comes as part of the directive from PKK leader Abdullah €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦‚¬Å¡¬€¦‚¬Å“calan to dissolve the organization, surrender the weapons of its fighters, and shift towards political engagement.

Official Turkish sources have indicated that delegations from Turkey, pro-Kurdish parties, the Iraqi government, and the Kurdistan Regional Government are present at the ceremony marking the disarmament of the first group of militants, estimated between 20 and 30 individuals. €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦‚¬Å¡¬€¦‚¬Å“mer €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¡elik, spokesperson for Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), confirmed that Turkish intelligence and military officials will oversee the process, which is expected to complete within three to five months.

€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦‚¬Å¡¬€¦‚¬Å“mer €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¡elik warned that any delays beyond this timeline could leave PKK forces susceptible to provocations. Meanwhile, Ayse Gl Dogan, spokesperson for Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (HDP), emphasized the need for legal guarantees and mechanisms to ensure the permanence of the disarmament and transition to democratic politics. HDP members will also be present at the Sulaymaniyah ceremony.

The start of the disarmament follows a recent visit by Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin to Baghdad for coordination with Iraqi authorities. Abdullah €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦‚¬Å¡¬€¦‚¬Å“calan has called for the PKK’s dissolution and a move towards democratic politics, marking the end of the group’s four-decade armed struggle against the Turkish state. The PKK had announced its intention to disarm on May 12, closing a chapter that resulted in over 45,000 deaths.