Pakistan Major Who Captured Abhinandan Dies in Clash with Taliban

A Pakistan military officer, Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, who claimed to have captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, was killed in a clash with Taliban militants in South Waziristan near the Afghan border. The operation against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters led to the deaths of Major Moiz and Lance Naik Jibran Ullah. The Pakistan Army also killed 11 TTP militants and wounded seven others in the same operation. Major Moiz's funeral prayers were held in Rawalpindi, attended by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir.

General Munir praised Major Moiz for his bravery and sacrifice in the line of duty. Major Moiz's body was laid to rest in his hometown of Chakwal with full military honors. A video of his old interview detailing the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has resurfaced on social media.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), formed in 2007, aims to impose strict Islamic law in Pakistan. With ties to al-Qaeda, the TTP has been responsible for various deadly attacks in Pakistan, including the 2009 army headquarters assault and the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad.