A top official says Turkey is closely monitoring any attempts to undermine its peace initiative with the PKK following the militant Kurdish group’s announcement that it is ending its decades-long armed conflict with the Turkish state.

The PKK Kurdish militant group says it will disband and end its armed struggle as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey, ending four decades of armed conflict.

The PKK insurgency initially aimed to create an independent homeland for Kurds, who account for about 20% of Turkey's population. But it has since moved away from its separatist goals, focusing instead on more autonomy and greater Kurdish rights.