RECENT peace deal between the PKK and the Turkish government again proves that war provides nothing except hate, death and destruction. Instead of using power and force, negotiations are the best solution to all problems.

Last year a peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro National Islamic Front and another peace agreement between Farc rebels and the Columbian government ended 40 years of bloodshed in these countries.

The US is also negotiating with the Taliban after 12 years of useless war in Afghanistan.

The recent peace deal and ceasefire between PKK rebels and the Turkish government is another big achievement of the Tayyip Erdogan government. Now the PKK jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan said that guns must be silent and peace should come in the region.

Ocalan also directed all  PKK fighters to stop attacks on Turkish soil and try to implement a peace map. Turkey was facing the worst terrorist attacks in different parts of the country in which a number of people lost their lives in the recent wave of terrorism.

More than 40,000 people have lost their lives in the 30-year-long conflict between the PKK and Turkey. Turkish forces launched several air strikes on Iraq to destroy the infrastructure of PKK fighters, and in the process a number of Turks were killed in revenge PKK attacks. The recent peace deal can bring about vital changes in the region.

K. UMER FAROOQ    Jeddah