Islamabad: A Pakistan Army officer who had claimed to be involved in the capture of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in 2019 has been killed in an encounter with Taliban militants in South Waziristan, the military said.
Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, 37, of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group, was killed during a clash with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in the Sararogha area near the Afghan border on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing. Lance Naik Jibran Ullah, 27, also lost his life in the same encounter.
The operation led to the killing of 11 TTP militants and injuries to at least seven others, the statement added.
Major Moiz had earlier claimed to have been part of the team that captured Abhinandan Varthaman after his MiG-21 was shot down during the 2019 border standoff between India and Pakistan. The Indian pilot was later released and returned to India after diplomatic intervention.
A funeral ceremony for Major Moiz was held at Chaklala Garrison in Rawalpindi, attended by Army Chief General Asim Munir. His body was later flown to his hometown Chakwal, where he was laid to rest with full state honours.
