ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL: In a coordinated intelligence operation, Pakistani and Turkish agencies have captured a high-ranking Islamic State (IS) operative near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Ozgur Altun, also known by his alias “Abu Yasir Al Turki,” was detained following close cooperation between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MİT).
After his arrest, Altun was deported to Turkey for further investigations.
Altun is identified as the highest-ranking Turkish member of IS, overseeing critical media and logistics networks. Turkish intelligence revealed he coordinated the movement of IS fighters from Europe and Central Asia to South Asia and allegedly orchestrated plots against civilian targets, including concert venues across Turkey and Europe.
This arrest follows a March operation where Pakistan apprehended another IS-Khorasan commander linked to deadly attacks, including the 2021 Kabul airport suicide bombing.
Despite military setbacks, IS continues to orchestrate attacks globally, including high-profile assaults in Russia, Iran, and Oman in recent years.
The joint operation underscores the deepening security collaboration between Pakistan and Turkey, reaffirmed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Istanbul.
