Terrorist Extradited to Türkiye After Cross-Border Counterterrorism Success
In a significant counterterrorism breakthrough, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) executed a coordinated operation near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, leading to the arrest of a high-ranking Daesh operative, Ozgur Altun.
Altun, known by his nom de guerre “Abu Yasir Al Turki,” was listed in Türkiye’s orange category of wanted terrorists. He reportedly played a key role in Daesh’s Khorasan chapter, serving as a senior media official. His responsibilities included facilitating the movement of foreign fighters from Europe and Central Asia to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, an area that has become a hub for transnational jihadist networks since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
According to security sources, Altun was involved in planning mass-casualty attacks, particularly targeting civilian venues such as concerts in Türkiye and across Europe. His capture marks a major disruption to Daesh’s propaganda and recruitment infrastructure in the region.
The operation was initiated after Turkish intelligence identified Altun’s presence in Afghanistan and alerted Pakistani counterparts. ISI reportedly assured MIT of its full cooperation, stating that “Türkiye’s enemy is also Pakistan’s enemy” — underscoring the growing strategic partnership between the two nations in combatting transnational terrorism.
Following this assurance, the two agencies carried out a precision strike that resulted in Altun’s apprehension and subsequent extradition to Türkiye.
This joint operation signals a deepening intelligence partnership between Ankara and Islamabad, reflecting broader regional concerns about the resurgence of Daesh-Khorasan (ISKP) in the Afghanistan-Pakistan borderlands. It also illustrates how the region’s instability continues to attract foreign jihadists, turning the border zone into a transit and operational hub for global terror networks.
The seizure of digital materials and operational plans during the raid not only prevented imminent attacks but could also provide actionable intelligence for dismantling broader Daesh-linked networks in South and Central Asia.
Moreover, Türkiye’s proactive role in pursuing operatives abroad demonstrates a more assertive counterterrorism posture. For Pakistan, this operation reinforces its role as a key intelligence actor in the global fight against terrorism and highlights the continuing threat posed by foreign militants exploiting ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan.
As ISKP intensifies its global outreach and propaganda targeting Türkiye, Central Asia, and even China, joint operations of this nature could become increasingly vital in preempting transnational attacks.
