ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistani authorities arrested Sultan Aziz Azzam, a spokesperson for the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), earlier this year, according to a recent report submitted to the United Nations Security Council.
IS-K, an affiliate of the Islamic State group operating in Central and South Asia, has seen its operational capacity weakened due to intensified counter-terrorism measures, the UN’s 16th report by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team noted.
The report highlighted that Pakistan’s arrest of Azzam from the border region in May significantly disrupted the group’s activities. State-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that intelligence agencies apprehended Azzam during an operation near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
According to the report, IS-K’s propaganda network, including its media arm Al-Azaim Foundation, suffered a major setback following Azzam’s arrest. The UN document stated that the group’s overall capability has declined as a result of sustained counter-terrorism operations, with several senior commanders and ideologues neutralised and multiple planned attacks foiled.
The report added that IS-K’s ability to operate freely on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has been curtailed. However, it described Taliban claims that no terrorist groups operate from Afghan soil as not credible, noting that several militant organisations continue to function there with varying degrees of oversight.
It further warned that in northern Afghanistan and border areas near Pakistan, IS-K has reportedly indoctrinated children in madressahs and established suicide training programmes for minors.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, formally requested on December 8 that the report be presented to the UN Security Council.
Who is Sultan Aziz Azzam?
According to the UNSC, Azzam has served as IS-K’s spokesperson since the group emerged in Afghanistan in 2015. Analysts describe him as a senior figure within the organisation, with responsibility for its media operations through Al-Azaim Media.
Research indicates that Azzam was born in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and previously worked as a journalist, contributing to local radio stations and authoring books and poetry. His writings and propaganda are credited with helping recruit fighters and promote IS-K’s ideology.
Azzam also claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks, including the August 2021 suicide bombing near Kabul airport, and issued statements following attacks on journalists and prison facilities in Afghanistan.
Previous Action Against IS-K in Pakistan
Pakistan’s efforts against IS-K have drawn international recognition. In June, the former US Central Command chief praised Pakistan’s role in counter-terrorism operations, noting the arrest and extradition of several high-value IS-K operatives.
More recently, a key IS-K commander was killed during a police operation in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after an exchange of fire at a suspected hideout.
