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Türkiye's ruling party hails PKK withdrawal as 'concrete results' toward Terror-Free Türkiye

The first group of PKK terrorists lays down and destroys their weapons in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq on July 11, 2025. (AFP Photo)
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The first group of PKK terrorists lays down and destroys their weapons in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq on July 11, 2025. (AFP Photo)
October 26, 2025 11:57 AM GMT+03:00

Türkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) said on Sunday that the terrorist organization PKK's announcement of its withdrawal from Turkish territory and continuation of weapons destruction represents concrete progress on the path toward a "Terror-Free Türkiye," a strategic government objective launched amid regional turmoil.

Party spokesman Omer Celik issued a statement hailing the development as part of an ongoing process aimed at eliminating terror from Turkish soil and neighboring regions, though cautioning that the process must be protected from "all provocations."

"The PKK's decision to withdraw from Türkiye and the announcement of new steps in the weapons-laying process are concrete results of progress on the 'Terror-Free Türkiye' roadmap," Celik said in a statement.

"The withdrawal of terror elements from Türkiye and the announcement of new steps regarding weapons laying are progress aligned with the main goal," he added.

Strategic 'Terror-Free Türkiye' process unfolding

Celik emphasized that the withdrawal of PKK armed elements from Turkish territory and the broader region—including Iraq and Syria—represents the core agenda of the "Terror-Free Türkiye" process.

The ruling party spokesman stressed that the PKK's continuous weapons laying is the main heading of the "Terror-Free Türkiye" objective roadmap, describing the peace process as "a strategic and historical step" taken to cleanse Turkish democracy of all threats.

"With today's developments, the PKK's decision to withdraw from Türkiye and the announcement of new steps in the weapons-laying process represent concrete results of progress on the 'Terror-Free Türkiye' roadmap," Celik stated.

"The roadmap continues to produce positive results for the 'Terror-Free Türkiye' goal," he added.

The ruling party describes the "Terror-Free Türkiye" process as a strategic initiative to eliminate terror threats alongside a complementary goal of creating a "terror-free region" to counter what the government characterizes as imperial domination through terrorist organizations in neighboring territories.

The first group of PKK terrorists lays down and destroys their weapons in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq on July 11, 2025. (AA Photo)
The first group of PKK terrorists lays down and destroys their weapons in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq on July 11, 2025. (AA Photo)

Multi-party parliamentary support

Celik highlighted the role of Türkiye's parliament in sustaining the process, particularly through the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, which includes representatives from multiple political parties.

The ruling party spokesman said the commission's work has demonstrated that national will is the "sole political subject" of the process, strengthening its foundation.

"The support and guidance matured through the work of the Grand National Assembly's National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, which comprises different political parties, clearly demonstrated that the sole political subject of this process is the national will," Celik said.

He emphasized that continued weapons-laying and dissolution processes will ensure the achievement of targets, while the commission will clarify positive frameworks as the process advances.

"Following this, the steps taken to ensure the continuous progress of the weapons-laying and dissolution process will enable targets to be reached," Celik said.

"With the continuation of the dissolution and weapons-laying process, the positive framework drawn by the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission will become clearer," he noted.

The Turkish Parliament General Assembly is under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan in Ankara, Türkiye, October 16, 2025. (AA Photo)
The Turkish Parliament General Assembly is under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan in Ankara, Türkiye, October 16, 2025. (AA Photo)

Vigilance against 'provocations' targeting Terror-Free Türkiye

Celik warned that the process must be protected from provocations, noting awareness of efforts by regional actors to destabilize Türkiye and neighboring areas.

"Maximum attention must be paid to protecting the process from all kinds of provocations," Celik stated.

"We are aware of the chaotic policies developing in our region and the political, intelligence, and actual sabotage attempts behind the actors pursuing them. In response, we are determinedly implementing the roadmap," he added.

The spokesman said that political parties from different perspectives represent "political richness" that strengthens the process, provided that diversity is maintained in accordance with "state qualities" and "national values."

"The existence and support of parties from different political viewpoints is political richness, adding strength to this entire process," Celik said.

"The protection of this political richness in a manner befitting our state's qualities and our nation's values, and advancing toward the main goal, will be enlightening," he noted.

Justice and Development (AK) Party's Spokesman Omer Celik gives a press conference at AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2025. (AA Photo)
Justice and Development (AK) Party's Spokesman Omer Celik gives a press conference at AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2025. (AA Photo)

Turkish government's determination emphasized

Celik stressed that unjust accusations and slander aimed at diverting the process from its main focus will not be tolerated and that marginal and maximalist approaches will not be allowed to poison the roadmap.

"With the support of each of our citizens and our brotherhood, historical and shared destiny, we are advancing toward our goals. With the high state will of our president, all institutions of our state are determinedly continuing to work toward the 'Terror-Free Türkiye' goal," Celik stated.

"The Turkish Republic is in control of its agenda," he noted.

Deputy leader signals 'new era'

Deputy Party Chairman Efkan Ala also issued a statement welcoming the PKK withdrawal, framing it as marking an important threshold in the "Terror-Free Türkiye" process and signaling the beginning of a new period for the nation.

"In the 'Terror-Free Türkiye' process we are conducting by fortifying our internal front, today we have passed another important threshold," Ala said. "With the complete elimination of terror that has shackled our country for years, the doors of a new era will open."

Ala emphasized that eliminating internal terror threats will allow Türkiye to focus on opportunities and direct all capabilities toward what the government calls the "Century of Türkiye" objective.

The deputy leader suggested that the successful conclusion of the process would benefit Türkiye's 86 million citizens, nations in Türkiye's sphere of influence, and the broader region, while those seeking regional instability through terror, blood, and violence would lose.

"A Türkiye that focuses on its opportunities rather than exhausting its energy on internal problems, directing all its capabilities toward the 'Century of Türkiye' goal—its winners will be our 86 million citizens, our brothers and sisters who have placed their hopes in us in our sphere of influence, and our entire region," Ala said.

"The losers will be those who want to destabilize our country and region, those who feed on terror, blood and violence," he added.

PKK members line up to put their weapons into a pit during a ceremony in Sulaymaniyah, in Iraq, July 11, 2025. (AFP Photo)
PKK members line up to put their weapons into a pit during a ceremony in Sulaymaniyah, in Iraq, July 11, 2025. (AFP Photo)

PKK's announcement and background

The ruling party's statements came in response to the terrorist organization PKK's announcement that it is withdrawing armed elements from within Turkish borders to Iraq's north, in what the terrorist organization characterized as the implementation of decisions made at its May congress.

The PKK said the withdrawal is taking place "under the direction of imprisoned ringleader Abdullah Ocalan and represents a continuation of the armed struggle termination decision."

A PKK press statement was released near the Qandil Mountain area in northern Iraq, with 23 PKK members, said to have recently departed Turkish territory, reportedly present at the announcement location.

The process marks a significant shift following Ocalan's February 2025 "Peace and Democratic Society" call and the PKK's May 12th Congress decisions to end the organization's structural existence and armed struggle.

October 26, 2025 11:58 AM GMT+03:00
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