ISLAMABAD: An operative of the militant Islamic State (IS) group was captured at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in a joint intelligence operation conducted by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), according to Turkish security sources.
The arrested individual, Ozgur Altun, also known by the codename “Abu Yasir Al Turki,” was described as the highest-ranking Turkish member of IS. He is alleged to have played a critical role in the group’s media and logistics operations and in coordinating the movement of IS fighters from Europe and Central Asia to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
The operation followed actionable intelligence shared between the two countries. Türkiye had tracked Altun’s movements and briefed Pakistani intelligence on his location in Afghanistan and his intent to cross into Pakistan. Upon his arrest, he was deported to Türkiye for further investigation.
Altun is also accused of plotting attacks on concert venues and civilian sites in Türkiye and across Europe, underscoring his central role in IS’s international operations.
The capture of such a high-value target comes shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Istanbul, where Pakistan and Türkiye reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation.
This development echoes a similar operation in March, when an IS-Khorasan operative was detained by Pakistani authorities and handed over to the United States, a move that drew praise from then-President Donald Trump for Islamabad’s assistance in global counterterrorism efforts.
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Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz discussed enhancing cooperation across key sectors such as energy, transportation, and defence, with Erdoğan emphasising shared ambitions to reach a $5 billion trade volume.
Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan convened at the historic Dolmabahçe Palace for talks centred on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations. Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun highlighted that the meeting would comprehensively review progress under the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, last convened during Erdoğan’s February visit to Islamabad. The leaders discussed enhancing cooperation across key sectors such as energy, transportation, and defence, with Erdoğan emphasising shared ambitions to reach a $5 billion trade volume. The fight against terrorism also featured prominently, with Erdoğan underscoring the mutual benefits of boosting collaboration in intelligence sharing, training, and technological support.
“We will continue to take steps to advance Türkiye-Pakistan relations and achieve our trade target,” Erdoğan said. He also stressed the urgency of operationalising the Istanbul-Tbilisi-Islamabad railway corridor and praised Pakistan’s principled stance on Palestine. Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to expedite humanitarian aid to Gaza. Accompanying Erdogan were senior officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, National Intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın, and others, underscoring the visit’s significance.
Sharif’s trip marks the first leg of a four-nation tour encompassing Azerbaijan, Iran, and Tajikistan. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced that Sharif will engage in wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional, and international issues with leaders from these countries. This visit unfolds against the backdrop of heightened Pakistan-India tensions, which narrowly skirted full-scale conflict before a cease-fire was agreed upon. Türkiye’s close relations with both South Asian neighbours position Erdoğan as a potential mediator, a role he expressed willingness to embrace, stating, “If requested, we will do our part. We want peace; no tension between the two neighbours.”
