Osnovana 1970-tih godina kao marksistička grupa koja zagovara "narodnu republiku" na jugoistoku Turske, PKK predviđa nezavisnu državu za Kurde, koja bi obuhvaćala sjeverni Irak, te i dijelove Irana i Sirije.
Founded in the 1970s as a Marxist group advocating a "people's republic" in southeastern Turkey, the PKK envisages an independent state for Kurds that would include northern Iraq and parts of Iran and Syria as well.