In a major counter-terrorism breakthrough, Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in close coordination with Turkish intelligence, successfully captured a top figure of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Abu Yasir Al-Turki — real name Özgür Altun — near Pakistan’s western border.
The operation was conducted following an actionable tip-off shared by Turkish intelligence services. Abu Yasir, considered one of ISIS-K’s key transnational operatives, played a critical role in coordinating logistics, media, and propaganda operations for the group. He was also responsible for moving terrorists from Europe into the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, producing extremist propaganda in both English and Turkish, and reportedly ordering attacks on public venues, including concerts.
Security sources say the arrest of Abu Yasir marks a severe blow to ISIS-K’s regional and European networks, disrupting a key communication and recruitment channel.
After his arrest, Abu Yasir was handed over to Turkish authorities, in what is being hailed as a landmark example of intelligence cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye.
“This successful joint operation reflects the growing trust and strategic depth in Pak-Turk intelligence collaboration,” a senior security official stated. “The neutralisation of such a high-value target is not just a win for our two nations, but a strong message to all transnational terrorist networks operating in the region.”
The arrest is being described as a turning point in regional counter-terrorism efforts, and a strong indicator of the increasing intelligence synergy between Ankara and Islamabad as both nations work to dismantle extremist networks threatening regional and global security.
