Azerbaijani president hails Türkiye’s success in ending PKK insurgency

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish people on the self-dissolution of the terrorist organisation PKK.

Aliyev shared a post on social media on this occasion, Caliber.Az reports.

The president emphasised that the self-dissolution of the PKK marks an important milestone in achieving the goal of a "terror-free Türkiye" proclaimed by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He noted that it is also the result of the country's resolute policies, unwavering determination, national unity, and solidarity.

Aliyev wished the Turkish state and people success in fully implementing this decision. 

Başda əziz Qardaşım, Türkiyə Respublikasının Prezidenti Rəcəb Tayyib Ərdoğan olmaqla bütün qardaş Türkiyə xalqını PKK terror qruplaşmasının özünü ləğv etmək və silahı yerə qoymaq qərarı münasibətilə ürəkdən təbrik edirəm.
Əziz Qardaşımın bəyan etdiyi “Terrorsuz Türkiyə” hədəfinə…

— İlham Əliyev (@azpresident) May 12, 2025

From May 5 to 7, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) held its 12th congress, during which the group officially announced its decision to lay down arms and dissolve the organisation. In a final declaration released at the end of the congress, the PKK stated: “The armed struggle is over, the weapons are laid down.”

This significant development followed a call by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who urged the PKK to disband and abandon armed activities as part of the broader “Terror-free Türkiye” initiative. The PKK's decision to convene its congress and make this historic announcement appears to have been a direct response to this appeal.

The PKK conflict has been one of the most prolonged and violent internal struggles in modern Turkish history. Established in 1978 by Abdullah Öcalan, the group initially aimed to create an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Türkiye. Over time, its goals evolved to focus on autonomy and expanded political rights for Kurds within the country. However, the organisation’s longstanding reliance on violence and guerrilla tactics has led to decades of bloodshed and instability. The announced disbandment marks a potentially transformative moment in Türkiye’s efforts to end domestic terrorism and foster national unity.