Turkish authorities have confirmed the arrest of Abu Yasar al-Turki, a high-profile Daesh (ISIS) terrorist, with critical support from Pakistani security agencies, Turkish media reported on Sunday.
Abu Yasar was reportedly captured near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where he had been hiding. He was wanted by Turkey for his involvement in terrorist attacks on music concerts and for facilitating the transfer of militants from Europe to Afghanistan.
Turkish media praised the cooperation between Pakistani and Turkish intelligence agencies, calling the arrest a significant blow to Daesh’s regional network.
This development comes just months after Pakistan arrested another top Daesh commander, Mohammad Sharifullah, in March 2025. Sharifullah was identified by the U.S. as the mastermind behind the deadly Abbey Gate bombing during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had publicly thanked Pakistan for that arrest in a congressional address.
Security analysts say these back-to-back arrests show Pakistan's growing role in counterterrorism efforts across the region.
