Islamabad, December 16, 2025 (Agencies) – Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has arrested Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior leader of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and founder of the group’s Al-Azaim Media network, in a major counter-terrorism operation along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border earlier in May this year.
Born in 1978 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, Azzam is a graduate of the University of Nangarhar. He joined ISKP in 2016 and rose to become the group’s second-in-command, overseeing Al-Azaim Media — ISKP’s key propaganda and recruitment arm. His role made him central to advancing the group’s extremist ideology and operational outreach.
The United States designated Azzam as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in November 2021. His capture is seen as a significant blow to ISKP’s leadership and propaganda infrastructure, which has been instrumental in recruiting fighters and spreading extremist narratives across the region.
Security officials confirmed that ISKP’s media operations were disrupted following his arrest, weakening the group’s ability to coordinate propaganda campaigns. Analysts say the operation underscores Pakistan’s growing role in combating transnational terrorism and highlights ISI’s capacity to neutralize high-value targets.
The arrest of Sultan Aziz Azzam marks one of the most high-profile setbacks for ISKP in recent years, reinforcing regional counter-terrorism efforts against extremist networks operating across South and Central Asia.