Turkey: PKK's Disarmament in Iraq to be Implemented in Stages, Completion Within 3 Months

The spokesperson for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, Omar Celik, announced that the process of disarming the fighters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Iraq is expected to be completed within the next three months, indicating that the operation will officially begin next Friday in the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq.

This came during statements by Celik to the Turkish channel "N.TV" on Wednesday, where he explained that a "verification mechanism" including representatives from the Turkish intelligence and army will oversee the weapons handover process. He added: "The disarmament process must be completed within 3 to 5 months... If this period is exceeded, it will become susceptible to provocations".

This development follows the decision of the PKK last May to dissolve itself and end its armed struggle, which lasted for over four decades against the Turkish state. Kurdish fighters are expected to start handing over their weapons as part of the peace process with Ankara.

It is worth mentioning that the Kurdistan Workers' Party launched its armed rebellion in 1984 seeking to establish an independent Kurdish state, resulting in the deaths of over 40,000 people, in addition to deep economic and social repercussions in Turkey.