Military Space News
THE STANS
Iraq: PKK decision to disband boosts regional stability
Iraq: PKK decision to disband boosts regional stability
by AFP Staff Writers
Baghdad (AFP) May 12, 2025

Iraq welcomed Monday the Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) decision to disband and end its armed struggle against Turkey, saying it would strengthen regional stability.

The PKK decision is a "significant opportunity to promote peace efforts and end long-standing conflicts," a foreign ministry statement said.

It would also "strengthen security and stability in Iraq and the region", it added.

The Kurdish armed group on Monday announced its dissolution, saying it was ending its armed struggle against Turkey and drawing a line under its deadly four-decade insurgency.

The historic announcement came after an appeal by the group's founder Abdullah Ocalan, who urged his fighters in February to disarm and disband in a letter from Istanbul's Imrali prison island, where he has been held since 1999.

Blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies, the PKK operates rear bases in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, where Turkey also maintains military bases and often carries out air and ground operations against the Kurdish militants.

The PKK presence in Iraq has long been a major source of tension with neighbouring Turkey.

The group's decision is an "opportunity" to look into "arguments that have long been used to justify the presence of foreign forces in Iraq", the foreign ministry said.

Earlier, the president of Iraq's Kurdistan region, Nechirvan Barzani, said the PKK decision "demonstrates political maturity... and lays the foundation for a lasting peace that would end decades of violence, pain and suffering".

He said that Kurdistan is ready to support efforts to guarantee the success of "this historic opportunity".

The Barzani family leads the region's ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), is a crucial powerbroker in Kurdish affairs and has close ties with Turkey.

The other main party in the autonomous region, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), also welcomed the announcement.

The PUK "remains firmly committed to the success of the peace process and will cooperate with and support all parties to ensure its success", its leader Bafel Talabani said.

Turkey has long accused the PUK of leniency towards PKK activities in Iraq.

Related Links
News From Across The Stans

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
THE STANS
Pakistan warns will 'avenge' deaths from Indian strikes
Muzaffarabad, Pakistan (AFP) May 7, 2025
Pakistan has warned it will "avenge" those killed by Indian air strikes that New Delhi said were in response to an attack in Kashmir, signalling an imminent escalation in the worst violence in decades between the nuclear-armed neighbours. At least 43 deaths have been reported so far, with Islamabad saying 31 civilians were killed by the Indian strikes and firing along the border, and New Delhi adding at least 12 dead from Pakistani shelling. "We make this pledge, that we will avenge each drop of ... read more

THE STANS
Russia, China slam Trump's plan for 'Iron Dome' missile shield

Patriot defense system headed for Ukraine as ceasefire hopes dim

Israel says it downed Yemen-fired missile claimed by Huthis

Israel says intercepts missile fired by Yemen's Huthis

THE STANS
North Korea fires flurry of short-range ballistic missiles

Israel military tells Yemenis to evacuate Huthi-run ports

Russian missile strike on Ukraine city kills three

Huthis say US bombed Yemen after strike on Israel's main airport

THE STANS
Pakistan and India accuse each other of waves of drone attacks

Pakistan shoots down 25 Indian drones near military installations

Drones drag Sudan war into dangerous new territory

Lyten Unveils U.S.-Made Lithium-Sulfur Battery Platform for Advanced Drone Propulsion

THE STANS
Space Laser Communication Terminal Prototypes Enter Phase 2 for Advanced On-Orbit Crosslink Compatibility

China launches advanced Tianlian II-05 relay satellite to boost space communications

Sidus Space awarded US patent allowance for modular satellite system

HRL and Boeing advance quantum satellite communications milestone

THE STANS
Lithuania's parliament votes to withdraw from landmines treaty

Denmark to add 5,000 military positions

Nordics, Lithuania plan joint purchase of combat vehicles

Germany leads allies in $24B military aid package for Ukraine

THE STANS
Merz supports easing EU fiscal rules to boost defence spending

U.S. to begin immediately removing 1,000 transgender service members from military

NATO chief seeks defence spending at 5% of GDP by 2032: Dutch PM

VA secretary says job cuts would improve efficiency

THE STANS
Trump tells India and Pakistan to 'stop' clashes

Putin, Xi, Steven Seagal and missiles: Russia's Red Square parade

China congratulates Pope Leo on election, hopes for 'dialogue'

Moscow says 'no reason' to expect better German relations as Xi heads to Moscow

THE STANS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.