The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is a Kurdish militant group that has fought for greater rights and autonomy for Kurds in Turkey since the 1980s. Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK's leader, has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has resulted in significant loss of life and instability in the region. - Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the PKK, has urged the militant group to lay down its arms and dissolve. - Ocalan's call represents a potentially historic step towards resolving the decades-long conflict between the PKK and Turkey. - The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has lasted for 40 years and resulted in an estimated 40,000 deaths. - Ocalan has been imprisoned since 1999 and is currently serving a life sentence. - An ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ocalan could be offered parole if he renounced violence.