Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has announced the capture of Ahmad Kazanji, a suspected senior media and propaganda operative linked to ISIS, in a special intelligence operation.
Turkish media reported on Wednesday, citing security officials, that the suspect was known by the aliases “Abu Ubaida” and “Abu Ibrahim” and allegedly continued the group’s regional propaganda activities after the arrest of another senior ISIS media figure.
According to Turkish authorities, Kazanji played an important role within the media structure of ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and operated in areas along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
MIT said intelligence investigations showed that the suspect traveled from Turkey to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, where he allegedly joined ISIS and received military as well as ideological training in the group’s camps.
Turkish officials further claim that, in addition to his media activities, Kazanji was involved in facilitating and organizing the movement of ISIS members from Turkey to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the suspect survived airstrikes targeting ISIS positions in Pakistan and later attempted to re-enter Turkey illegally in order to resume his activities.
According to Turkish authorities, Kazanji admitted during questioning that he had connections with Ozgur Altun, a prominent ISIS figure, and acknowledged his involvement in the organization’s media and propaganda operations.
Ozgur Altun, a former ISIS media coordinator in Turkey, was reportedly arrested last year in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. Turkish authorities accused him of facilitating the transfer of ISIS members from Europe and Central Asia to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
ISIS-K has emerged as one of the most active branches of ISIS in recent years and has claimed responsibility for numerous deadly attacks across Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries in the region.
Turkish authorities describe the latest arrest as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt ISIS networks, recruitment channels and propaganda operations operating across national borders.
The claims and details provided by Turkish authorities have not been independently verified by NIMRUZ TV.
