Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In a significant counterterrorism breakthrough, Turkish and Pakistani intelligence agencies have apprehended Özgür Altun, also known as “Abu Yasir Al Turki,” a high-ranking ISIS operative, at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Altun, identified as the most prominent Turkish national within ISIS, was instrumental in the group’s media and logistics operations and was implicated in orchestrating attacks on civilian targets in Türkiye and Europe.
The operation was the result of coordinated efforts between Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). MIT had been monitoring Altun’s activities, uncovering his role in facilitating the movement of ISIS fighters from Europe and Central Asia into Afghanistan and Pakistan. Upon learning of his intent to cross into Pakistan, MIT alerted ISI, leading to a joint operation that culminated in Altun’s capture at the border.
Following his apprehension, Altun was extradited to Türkiye, where he confessed to his involvement in ISIS’s Turkish and English-language propaganda efforts and the recruitment of Turkish nationals for activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also acknowledged his role in planning terror attacks globally.
This operation underscores the ongoing threat posed by ISIS and highlights the importance of international collaboration in counterterrorism efforts. Turkish authorities continue to prioritize the dismantling of terrorist networks and the prevention of future attacks.
