Islamabad, June 1, 2025: A senior Daesh operative was apprehended in a joint intelligence operation conducted by Pakistan and Turkiye near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, according to a report by a Turkish news agency citing security sources on Sunday.
The captured militant was identified as Ozgur Altun, also known by his codename “Abu Yasir Al Turki”. Altun was reportedly wanted in Turkiye for masterminding terror plots targeting concert venues and civilian locations both in Turkiye and across Europe.
According to the report, Altun was the highest-ranking Turkish member of Daesh and played a pivotal role in managing the group’s media operations and logistics networks. Turkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) had been tracking his movements for months and uncovered that he was facilitating the movement of Daesh fighters from Europe and Central Asia into the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
Upon coordination with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the agencies executed a precise joint raid, leading to Altun’s arrest at a remote border location. He was later deported to Turkiye for further investigation.
The operation underscores the close security cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye, who continue to strengthen their strategic and intelligence ties. Both nations share a long-standing brotherly relationship, rooted in mutual respect, cultural affinity, and shared interests in regional peace and development.
In a recent bilateral engagement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed their commitment to deepening multifaceted cooperation and enhancing efforts toward counter-terrorism, sustainable development, and regional stability.
Pakistan, which has been at the frontline in the global war against terrorism, continues to play a critical role in disrupting militant networks and sharing actionable intelligence with regional and international allies.
In March this year, former US President Donald Trump publicly thanked Pakistan for its assistance in capturing Daesh-K commander Shareefullah, who was behind the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 US service members and around 170 Afghan civilians during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The latest joint operation further signals the determination of Pakistan and its allies to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and safeguard regional security.
