ISTANBUL: President Tayyip Erdogan said an agreement between ​the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria’s northeast had helped relieve pressure on a peace ‌process between ‌the Turkish ‌state ⁠and ​Kurdish ‌PKK militants at home.

Speaking to reporters on his return flight from visits to Saudi Arabia and ⁠Egypt, Erdogan said the ‌SDF adhering to ‍the accord ‍would strengthen the ‍atmosphere of peace in Syria and help achieve stability.

Turkiye has been engaged ​in a peace process with the ⁠outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant group for months and says the SDF, which it also views as a terrorist organization, must disband and disarm along with the ‌PKK.