A major breakthrough in counterterrorism efforts has been achieved with the capture of a senior ISIS operative, Abu Yasar al-Turki, according to Turkish outlets on Sunday.
The arrest, carried out with crucial input from Pakistan’s security agencies, marks a notable success in dismantling extremist operations.
Abu Yasar was reportedly located near the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier, where he had taken refuge.
Turkish authorities had long sought him in connection with orchestrating violent attacks on entertainment venues and enabling the movement of foreign fighters into conflict zones in Afghanistan.
The collaboration between Turkish and Pakistani intelligence circles was applauded by Turkish media, with officials calling the capture a serious setback to ISIS’s influence in the region.
This comes on the heels of another high-profile detention earlier this year. In March 2025, Pakistan apprehended Mohammad Sharifullah, another senior figure within the ISIS network.
Sharifullah was named by U.S. officials as the architect behind the 2021 Kabul airport bombing during the final stages of the U.S. withdrawal. His capture had drawn direct praise from former President Donald Trump in a speech to Congress.
Experts believe these successive counterterrorism wins underscore Pakistan’s increasing involvement in efforts to combat extremism across South and Central Asia.
