ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have arrested Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior leader of Islamic State–Khorasan Province (ISKP), during a counter-terrorism operation near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Officials confirmed that Sultan Aziz Azzam served as ISKP’s spokesperson and founded the group’s official media wing, which played a key role in propaganda and recruitment.
According to security sources, the arrest was carried out by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on May 16, 2025. Operational details were withheld to protect ongoing counter-terrorism efforts. The arrest was later cited in the Sixteenth Report of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team.
Azzam, also known as Khazari Sultan Aziz Azzam, was detained in border areas between Nangarhar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, regions sensitive due to militant activity.
He founded the Al-Azaim Foundation, ISKP’s official media outlet, which managed propaganda distribution and ideological messaging. The foundation operated platforms such as Voice of Khorasan, widely used for recruitment and extremist outreach.
Following his arrest, several ISIS-K propaganda channels were suspended, disrupting the group’s media operations. The UN report noted that Pakistan’s crackdown has weakened ISKP globally, thwarting several planned attacks.
The number of fighters has reportedly declined, and key commanders and ideological leaders have been neutralized. The arrest of Azzam, alongside senior leader Abu Yasir al-Turki, reduced ISKP’s capacity to organize cross-border attacks.
In June, encrypted ISIS-K accounts were abruptly deactivated, described by analysts as a possible “kill switch.” Since then, the group’s propaganda output, especially in English, has dropped significantly, though limited messaging continues in other languages.
Born in 1980 in Nangarhar’s Bati Kot district, Azzam began his career in local radio broadcasting with Spinghar Radio, Hamesha Bahar Radio, and Nan Radio. Around 2013–2014, he joined ISKP, using his media expertise to shape the group’s narrative.
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In December 2021, the US Treasury designated Sultan Aziz Azzam as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, recognizing his role in extremist propaganda and recruitment.
