PKK to begin disarmament as part of ‘Terror-Free Turkey’ initiative

The PKK will begin laying down arms on July 11, marking the start of a disarmament process initiated under Turkey’s “Terror-Free Turkey” campaign, backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli.

A group of 20–30 PKK members is expected to surrender weapons in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq. Talks led by Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın included key meetings in Erbil and Baghdad.

The process includes the destruction of weapons under MIT supervision and plans to empty rural arms depots.

Around 2,000 militants are expected to disarm within 2–5 months.

Legal groundwork for social reintegration will follow in parliament, with possible parole for eligible PKK prisoners and rehabilitation programs for former child recruits.