Ankara: The militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced on Sunday that it is withdrawing all its forces from Turkey to northern Iraq, urging Ankara to take necessary legal steps to protect the peace process. The PKK's jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, had previously called for the group to disarm after decades of violence that resulted in approximately 50,000 deaths.

According to France24.com, the PKK formally renounced its armed struggle against Turkey in May, concluding four decades of conflict. The announcement was made during a ceremony in the Qandil area of northern Iraq, where a statement was read out by a PKK representative. Senior PKK member Sabri Ok emphasized the need for legal arrangements compatible with freedom, advocating for specific laws to facilitate the peace process rather than merely offering amnesty.

The PKK expressed its intention to pursue a democratic struggle to defend the rights of the Kurdish minority, aligning with a historic call by Ocalan. Turkey has begun indirect talks with the PKK, supported by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who viewed the PKK's move to destroy weapons in July as a significant victory for Turkey. Additionally, a cross-party parliamentary commission has been established to lay the groundwork for the peace process, including preparing a legal framework for the political integration of the PKK and its fighters.

The commission is also responsible for deciding the fate of Ocalan, the group's leader, who has been imprisoned in solitary confinement since 1999. The PKK's demands have centered on Ocalan's release. Analysts suggest that with the PKK weakened and the Kurdish public weary of prolonged violence, Turkey's peace offer provides Ocalan with an opportunity to transition away from armed struggle.

In July, the PKK held a symbolic ceremony in northern Iraq to destroy a batch of weapons, an event which Turkey hailed as an irreversible turning point. DEM, Turkey's third-largest party, has played a crucial role in facilitating the peace deal. Turkish media reports suggest that a party delegation will meet with Erdogan shortly before visiting Ocalan on Imrali island.