The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), founded by Abdullah Ocalan in 1974, has led a protracted insurgency against Turkey for decades. Key events include Ocalan’s capture in 1999, attempts at peace negotiations, ongoing violence, and significant operations by Turkish forces against the PKK and its bases in Iraq. Recent years have seen escalating tensions and calls from the Iraqi government concerning the PKK’s status.
Abdullah Ocalan, the founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), made a significant call for disarmament in pursuit of a peace agreement with Turkey. After his capture in 1999, he expressed love for his country and a willingness to serve it. Despite his intentions, the PKK continues to be a major national security concern for Turkey.
Key dates in the PKK’s insurgency include its formation in 1974 by Kurdish students under Ocalan’s leadership, aiming for an independent Kurdistan. Its first congress occurred in 1978, establishing its goals. In the early 1980s, with support from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the PKK set up its first training camp.
The PKK intensified its actions in August 1984 with its initial attacks on Turkish soldiers, leading to increased hostilities that prompted the group to use bases in northern Iraq. Following an agreement between Syria and Turkey in 1998, Ocalan was forced to vacate Syria and relocated the group’s headquarters to Northern Iraq.
Ocalan was captured by Turkish forces in February 1999 and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment after the death penalty was abolished two years later. After his arrest, the PKK declared a ceasefire, which lasted until 2004. Efforts to improve Kurdish rights in Turkey began in 2003 with legislative reforms aimed at EU membership.
Secret negotiations took place between Turkish officials and PKK representatives in Oslo in 2010 but ultimately failed. By the summer of 2012, fighting escalated as the Turkish government cracked down on Kurdish activists, coinciding with new talks initiated by Ocalan.
A ceasefire was announced by Ocalan in March 2013, ordering his fighters to withdraw from Turkey. However, in 2015, deteriorating conditions due to the rise of ISIS led to renewed violence, culminating in the collapse of the ceasefire and significant urban destruction.
In June 2020, Turkey commenced military operations in Iraqi Kurdish areas to counter PKK, which drew criticism from Iraq’s government. In February 2021, a failed Turkish mission to rescue hostages captured by the PKK resulted in their deaths, further straining relations with Washington.
By July 2024, Iraq officially banned the PKK from operating within its borders, marking its position regarding the group. In October 2024, the PKK claimed responsibility for an attack near Ankara that resulted in fatalities and injuries, highlighting the ongoing conflict.
The PKK’s insurgency against Turkey spans decades, marked by various key events and shifts in strategy, with significant actions and calls for peace from its leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Despite ongoing attempts at negotiation and reform, violence has persisted, complicating the relationship between Kurdish groups and the Turkish state, as well as impacting regional stability.
Original Source: www.thenationalnews.com
