Karayilan told PKK-affiliated ANF news agency that the Kurdistan Region cannot continue without a balance between the PKK and Turkey.

He described the Region’s officials as “cowardly and nonvocal“ in response to attacks by the Turkish army. He also stressed that those attacks should come to an end.

“The federalism of the Kurdistan Region cannot continue for a single day if there were not the balance between the PKK and Turkey,” Karayilan said.

“Erdogan is afraid of the liberty of the North Kurdistan and cannot step up its military movements in the Region. Thus, the forces in the Kurdistan Region take advantage of this balance and continue their federalism.”

Regarding Turkey’s airstrikes in the Kurdistan Region, he criticized the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and said “if it [the KRG] continues to take its current stance, Turkey might arrive in Erbil tomorrow.”

“Our activities and resistance in the Region against the Turkish army will continue. We will not leave even a bridge in Kurdistan to Turkey.”

The KRG has routinely calls on the PKK to not use the Region’s soil as a launching pad for attacks against Turkey.

The three-decade armed struggle by the PKK against the Turkish government flared up again in 2015 after the collapse of a two-year ceasefire and settlement process.

Reporter’s code: 50101