Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın met with Kurdish leader Bafel Talabani during a visit to Iraq. During the meeting, Kalın emphasized that the elimination of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorism is nearing a conclusion. Turkish security sources reported that Kalın visited Sulaymaniyah, where discussions centered on the necessary steps for the disarmament and dissolution of the PKK, alongside bolstering cooperation against terrorism.
The conversation also covered the broader security environment across the region, paying specific attention to developments in Iraq, Syria, and the Middle East. Both parties highlighted the critical importance of coordination between Turkish and Kurdish authorities to ensure regional stability. According to the sources, the process of neutralizing the PKK threat is entering a decisive phase, making cooperation with Kurdish regional authorities a key element for achieving a lasting resolution.
The article also provided context regarding the Kurdish population, noting that Kurds constitute the world’s largest stateless group. An estimated 15 million Kurds reside in Turkey, primarily in the southeastern regions. The PKK was established by Abdullah Ocalan in 1978.
Initially aiming for an independent Kurdish state, the group later redirected its focus toward securing autonomy and political and cultural rights for Kurds within Turkey.
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