Due to the war between the PKK and Turkey, hundreds of Kurdish villages have been abandoned
The conflict between the PKK and Turkey has caused extensive damage to villages along the Kurdistan border, leading to the evacuation of many villages and the displacement of their residents. With the initiation of the peace process in Turkey, hopes for life returning to these villages have been rekindled.
Following Abdullah Ocalan’s message on February 27, 2025, in which he called for the PKK to hold a congress, dissolve itself, and lay down arms, the next day, on February 28, the PKK officially announced a ceasefire. After the ceasefire was declared, the situation in the border areas of Duhok province became noticeably calmer. According to the American CPT organization, there was no combat or clashes for 48 hours in a village near the Matin Mountains in the Nehli area, an area that had seen continuous fighting for two years. The peace process has brought hope for stability to the region. Based on CPT’s statistics, due to the war between Turkey and the PKK, 107 villages in the border region of Duhok province have been abandoned, with 42 people killed.
Arif Roshdi, an advisor to the KDP Politburo, told The Kurdish Globe: “Ocalan’s message is very clear and needs no interpretation. He explicitly states that the era of armed struggle is over and that the PKK must dissolve itself and lay down arms. When the PKK was first established, there was a specific context for its formation. Now, that context no longer exists, and the struggle must take a different form.”
He continued: “It is crucial to create the right conditions for this message to be implemented. What Ocalan has proposed has been acted upon, and now the ball is in Turkey’s court. The PKK has also responded to Ocalan’s message positively. His message was clear—he is the leader of that party. If the Kurdish issue in Turkey is resolved, its positive effects will extend to all other parts of Kurdistan, especially in the Kurdistan Region. For years, this unwanted war has been imposed on our regions, and we have suffered its consequences. Hundreds of our villages have been forcibly evacuated, causing immense damage. Hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed despite having no connection to this conflict. If this war ends, those areas will be freed from conflict, allowing the Peshmerga forces to return to their positions, villages to be repopulated, and economic, social, and security stability to be restored between us and Turkey.”
Regarding this issue, Ayad Haji Namik, former Secretary of the Iraqi Parliament, told The Kurdish Globe: “Because of the PKK’s presence in the Kurdistan Region’s villages, many people have lost their homes and livelihoods, and Turkey continues to bombard these areas. These villages, towns, and districts are vital to Kurdistan’s economic backbone. The situation has created an ongoing dilemma for the Kurdistan Region, making it difficult to manage the conflict. Now that the peace process has resumed, steps must be taken carefully and effectively to ensure that stability returns to these areas and that territorial violations do not continue.”
He added: “PKK leadership has stated that they anticipate the peace process in Turkey to be fully implemented within six months. The first step was Ocalan’s call for disarmament and the dissolution of the PKK. Since most countries classify the PKK as a terrorist organization, it cannot enter the Turkish Parliament under its current name. Therefore, the PKK must dissolve itself and re-enter the political process under a new name. If this happens, there will no longer be a need for armed forces in the border areas and mountains of Kurdistan. We hope these regions will be freed from war and that Kurdistan’s economy in these areas will be revitalized.”
Meanwhile, regarding President Barzani’s role in the peace process, Keskin Bayindir, leader of the Democratic Party of the Region (DBP), stated: “We are very pleased as Kurds. We met with President Barzani and conveyed Ocalan’s greetings and message to him.”
He added: “A peace process is underway in Northern Kurdistan. President Barzani’s stance and engagement in this process are highly significant for the Kurdish people and Kurdistan. During our meeting, we discussed what is needed for the process and expressed our support for it.”
Keskin highly praised President Barzani’s position, stating: “We are very happy to support President Barzani, and our visits will continue.”
The Kurdish Globe