KNK's Ghafour: PKK decision reflects strategic awareness

In the final communiqué following its 12th Congress, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) officially announced the termination of its armed struggle and the cessation of all activities conducted in its name. The party declared its transition to a new political approach aligned with regional and international transformations.

 Commenting on this shift, Rafiq Ghafour stated that the decision is a natural response to changing circumstances and demonstrates strategic awareness regarding the need to evolve methods of struggle.

 Ghafour noted: “Successive Turkish governments have adhered to the principles of the ‘National Pact,’ which entail the denial and eradication of the Kurdish people and other communities inhabiting this geography. For over 45 years, the PKK has made immense efforts and sacrifices to lay the groundwork for a democratic and just system that recognizes the existence and legitimate rights of all peoples and components of the country.”

 He added: “Through decades of arduous struggle employing various legitimate means, including armed resistance, the PKK has transformed into an influential force, not only within Kurdistan but across the broader Middle East.”

 "A Bold and Correct Decision"

 Speaking about current global and regional dynamics, Ghafour remarked: “In the midst of international and regional conflicts, a wave of change is sweeping across numerous regions, including the Middle East, where Kurdistan lies at the heart. Regional and international powers are not only seeking to preserve their gains but also to expand them. This necessitates the adoption of new policies, practices, and innovative strategies. One of the pillars of strength lies in the ability to take decisive action at the right moment. From this perspective, the decision by the PKK and its leader Abdullah Öcalan is both bold and sound.”

 He continued: “The party has declared the end of all activities carried out under its name. This announcement, issued in the final communiqué of its recent congress, is rooted in the need to adapt to new regional and global realities. The Kurdish Liberation Forces will henceforth operate under new modalities, no longer under the banner of the PKK.”

 "The PKK Has Fulfilled Its Historical Role"

 Ghafour emphasized that: “The congress statement marks the conclusion of a period of activity that spanned more than 45 years. The PKK has fulfilled its historical role and achieved many of its goals. The movement has been a central actor in the Kurdish liberation struggle, particularly in Turkey, while also exerting influence in other parts of Kurdistan, including Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The party now underscores the necessity of new organizational structures and political strategies to meet the changing conditions in the region.”

 He underscored the importance of shared responsibility in achieving peace: “Building peace, stability, and a democratic society in Turkey is a mutual objective. This goal cannot rest solely on one party in the conflict. The PKK has taken bold and tangible steps. Now, it is the turn of the Turkish state.”

 Ghafour added: “The current situation in Turkey reveals a widening gap between a civil society that rejects the outdated policies of the regime and a government intent on imposing its authority over all aspects of daily life, refusing to recognize the existence of the ‘other’ or their right to express their culture. Aspirations for democracy, stability, peaceful coexistence, and a shared future must be translated into reality through changes in policy, the constitution, and laws that have hindered these aspirations for decades.”

 He called on the Turkish Parliament and state institutions to shoulder their responsibilities: “Herein lies the critical role of the Turkish Parliament and all legislative, legal, security, and military institutions in taking the necessary steps to realize these objectives. A stable democratic system based on the rule of law cannot be compared to regimes governed by autocracy and the logic of security and military dominance.”

 Ghafour also addressed the wider Turkish society: “All sectors of society in Turkey—including political parties, civil society organizations, intellectuals, religious leaders, women, and youth—must contribute constructively to this process of transformation.”

 Calls for Support for the Peace Process

 In a broader context, Ghafour highlighted the importance of support from Kurdish forces: “It is incumbent upon all Kurdish political and civil organizations across Kurdistan to support Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s initiative and the PKK’s congress declaration through all available political, diplomatic, and media channels. They must bolster the peace process and the democratic solution in this crucial part of Kurdistan, and in a country with significant influence across the region.”

 He further appealed for international support for a democratic solution: “The international community, democratic forces, and peace advocates around the world must encourage the Turkish state and government to take the necessary steps toward a democratic resolution and to end decades of denial, repression, and genocide against the Kurdish people.”

 He concluded: “This requires mobilizing public opinion globally, urging governments to act, and participating in peaceful activities of the Kurdish diaspora in their respective countries. International institutions, including the United Nations, the European Union, and NATO, must play an active role in achieving these aims and press the Turkish state to implement concrete measures accordingly.”

 a.k

ANHA