Major Moiz Abbas, Pakistani Soldier Who Captured Abhinandan Varthaman, Killed in Encounter

Major Moiz Abbas, the Pakistani soldier known for capturing Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in 2019, has been killed in an encounter in South Waziristan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The encounter involved a gunfight with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The 37-year-old officer from Chakwal was fatally shot alongside Lance Naik Jibranullah during an anti-terror operation. The TTP, once believed to have originated with support from Pakistan, has evolved into a significant threat. Abbas gained prominence for his role in the capture of Abhinandan Varthaman during the 2019 Balakot strike. Following the Pulwama terror attack, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 Bison jet during retaliatory air operations. His aircraft was shot down, and he was captured after landing in Pakistani-controlled territory. The TTP emerged in 2007, and its formation was a result of the Pakistani army’s actions against Islamabad’s Lal Masjid (Red Mosque). The current head, Noor Wali Mehsud, received training in camps allegedly supported by Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. Several TTP members also received training to target Pakistan’s Shia Muslim community.