The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced an immediate ceasefire with Turkey in response to a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan. The decision, confirmed in an official statement on Saturday, signals a potential turning point in the decades-long conflict.

The statement emphasized the PKK’s commitment to Öcalan’s message, stating that its forces will refrain from military operations unless attacked. The ceasefire comes amid increasing international pressure on both sides to renew peace talks, which collapsed in 2015.

The Turkish government has yet to issue an official response. However, government sources have indicated that any negotiations must include the complete disarmament of the PKK. The conflict, which began in 1984, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, predominantly among the Kurdish population.