The PKK terrorist organization announced Sunday that it has begun a “full withdrawal of its members” from Türkiye as part of ongoing peace talks aimed at advancing the process to its second phase.
The PKK announced on Sunday (Oct. 26) that "it has ended its armed struggle and withdrawn all forces from Turkish territory," declaring the completion of decisions made at the terrorist organization's 12th Congress.
"On the basis of decisions made at the 12th Congress, we are implementing the withdrawal of all our forces from within Turkish borders that create conflict risk and are exposed to possible provocations, with the approval of Leader Abdullah Ocalan," the PKK said in its announcement.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU, convened its congress in May and announced its dissolution, following a February call by its imprisoned ringleader, Abdullah Ocalan, for an end to the decades-long attacks.
The withdrawal announcement culminates eight months of concrete steps taken by the PKK since terrorist organization ringleader Abdullah Ocalan issued a call on Feb. 27.
The organization declared a ceasefire on March 1 to establish what it described as "a calm and comfortable discussion environment."
Following that declaration, the PKK convened its 12th Congress between May 5 and 7, at which point it made formal decisions to end the organization's structural existence and abandon its "armed struggle strategy."
On July 11, a group of 30 PKK terrorists, including 15 women, surrendered and destroyed their weapons in Iraq's Sulaymaniyah province by throwing them into a burning cauldron.