PKK leader Murat Karayilan stated that the PUK has not acquiesced to Turkey's demands, and he described this stance as having "national significance." He added that Bafel Talabani "will strengthen the PUK with his patriotic positions in the future, evidently following in the footsteps of his father, Jalal Talabani".
"While Hakan Fidan, Yaşar Güler, and Erdoğan are issuing threats to the PUK, Bafel Talabani has recently taken a public stand against these threats through the media," Karayilan said. "I don't know Bafel Talabani personally and have never met him. However, I have encountered Jalal Talabani on numerous occasions. I can say that we were acquaintances, but Bafel Talabani's statements, according to what I have read and heard in the media, were highly patriotic. They themselves are explicating their party's policy through these positions. In fact, every Kurd should conduct themselves in this manner."