RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has welcomed the call by Abdullah Ocalan, the founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), for the group to dissolve and lay down arms.

In a statement released on Friday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Kingdom’s solidarity with Turkey and its people, emphasizing that it looks forward to concrete steps that will ensure peace and prosperity.

Ocalan, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999, made the call in a statement read by Turkish lawmakers, urging PKK militants to abandon their armed struggle.

He acknowledged the historical ties between Turkish and Kurdish communities, stating that their relationship had been strained over the past two centuries but should now be restructured through peaceful means.

The PKK has been engaged in armed conflict with Turkey for nearly five decades, with the insurgency resulting in the deaths of over 40,000 people.

While the group initially sought an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey, it later shifted its demands toward greater autonomy.

The announcement marks a potential turning point in Turkey’s long-standing efforts to end the PKK conflict.

In recent years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has maintained a dual approach—military operations against PKK militants combined with political maneuvering.

Analysts suggest that after years of conflict, the PKK has been significantly weakened, making this an opportune moment for Ankara to push for a resolution largely on its own terms.

The dissolution of the PKK could also have broader regional implications, particularly in Syria and Iraq, where Kurdish factions affiliated with the group remain active.

Observers are closely watching how Ocalan’s statement might impact the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has played a key role in the U.S.-backed fight against ISIS. — SG with inputs from Agencies