UN report confirms arrest as part of Pakistan’s intensified counter-terrorism campaign

Pakistan Arrests ISKP Spokesperson Sultan Aziz Azzam

Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have arrested Sultan Aziz Azzam, the spokesperson of the Islamic State–Khorasan Province (ISKP) and founder of its official media wing, in a major counter-terrorism operation conducted along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.

Authorities confirmed that Azzam, also known as Khazari Sultan Aziz Azzam, is a senior ISIS-K figure responsible for overseeing the group’s media, propaganda, and recruitment operations. His arrest has been widely described as a critical blow to the group’s information and ideological warfare capabilities.

Arrest Confirmed by UN Monitoring Report

According to the Sixteenth Report of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, Azzam was detained on May 16, 2025, during an operation carried out by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The arrest reportedly took place in border areas between Nangarhar in Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.

Operational details remain undisclosed, with officials citing security concerns and the need to protect ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.

Founder of ISKP’s Media Wing

Sultan Aziz Azzam founded the Al-Azaim Foundation, ISKP’s official media outlet, which has played a central role in the group’s recruitment drives and ideological messaging. The foundation managed several propaganda platforms, including Voice of Khorasan, which targeted regional and international audiences.

Following Azzam’s arrest, multiple ISIS-K propaganda channels were reportedly suspended, significantly disrupting the group’s ability to disseminate content and coordinate online influence operations.

Impact on ISKP Operations

The UN report notes that Pakistan’s recent crackdown has weakened ISKP’s organizational structure on a global scale. Security agencies have thwarted several planned attacks, while the group has experienced a decline in fighters and the loss of key commanders and ideological leaders.

The arrest of Azzam, along with senior ISKP leader Abu Yasir al-Turki, has sharply reduced the group’s capacity to organize and execute large-scale attacks across the Pakistan–Afghanistan border region.

In June 2025, several encrypted ISIS-K accounts were abruptly deactivated through what analysts described as a coordinated “kill switch,” leading to widespread speculation among extremist monitoring platforms. Since then, the group’s propaganda output—particularly in English—has declined significantly.

From Local Broadcaster to Militant Spokesperson

Born in 1980 in Nangarhar’s Bati Kot district, Azzam began his career in local media, working with radio stations including Spinghar Radio, Hamesha Bahar Radio, and Nan Radio. He later joined ISKP around 2013–2014, leveraging his professional media background to shape and amplify the group’s extremist narrative.

His case underscores how militant organizations exploit individuals with communication and media expertise to expand their ideological reach.

In December 2021, the United States Treasury designated Sultan Aziz Azzam as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224, recognizing his strategic role in ISKP’s recruitment and radicalization efforts.