Turkish intelligence has detained a senior Turkish national commander of the Islamic State (IS) in the Afghanistan–Pakistan border region and transferred him to Turkey, in an operation that has once again drawn attention to Afghanistan’s continued role as a permissive environment for transnational militant networks operating across South and Central Asia.
According to Turkish intelligence sources, the arrested militant has been identified as Mehmet Gören, codenamed “Yahya,” a Turkish national who held a key operational position within IS structures active along the Durand Line. The arrest follows sustained intelligence-led tracking of IS facilitators involved in moving fighters, funds and logistical support between Turkey and militant hubs in the Afghanistan–Pakistan region.
Security officials stated that Gören had previously worked closely with Özgür Altun, also known as “Abu Yasir al-Turki,” another prominent Turkish IS figure who was apprehended earlier in Pakistan and subsequently extradited to Turkey. Investigations have established that both men were part of a coordinated network responsible for recruiting Turkish nationals and arranging their transfer to IS-linked formations operating from Afghan territory and adjoining border areas.
Turkish intelligence assessments indicate that Gören played a central role in facilitating the movement of IS members from Turkey to the Afghanistan–Pakistan region, exploiting porous borders, weak oversight and the absence of effective counterterrorism enforcement on the Afghan side. The region has increasingly emerged as a convergence point for foreign fighters seeking training, regrouping and operational guidance before redeployment to other conflict zones.
While official statements have referred broadly to the Afghanistan–Pakistan border area, security sources believe it is more likely that Gören was detained on Pakistani territory following actionable intelligence provided by Turkish agencies, highlighting Islamabad’s continued cooperation in counterterrorism operations. At the same time, the case underscores the persistent inability of Afghan authorities to prevent their territory from being used as a staging ground for international terrorist networks.
The latest arrest adds to mounting international concern over Afghanistan’s security landscape, where militant groups, including Islamic State affiliates, continue to find space to operate, recruit and coordinate despite repeated assurances of control and stability. Analysts note that the presence and mobility of foreign IS commanders in the region not only threaten neighboring states but also pose long-term risks to global security.
Gören has since been transferred to Turkey for further interrogation and legal proceedings, as Turkish authorities expand investigations into transnational IS networks with links to Afghanistan. The development is expected to intensify scrutiny of Kabul’s counterterrorism commitments and reinforce concerns that Afghanistan remains a critical node in the regional and global jihadist ecosystem.
