In a striking development that has brought renewed focus on regional counter-terror dynamics, Pakistan Army Major Moiz Abbas Shah, who had claimed in 2019 to have captured Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was killed in an encounter with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in the South Waziristan region on June 25, 2025.

The incident took place during an anti-terror operation led by the Pakistan Army. The 37-year-old officer, originally from Chakwal in Punjab province, was a part of the elite Special Service Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army, a unit often deployed in high-risk counterterrorism and reconnaissance missions.

The Pakistan Army confirmed the death of Major Moiz Abbas Shah, along with Lance Naik Jibranullah, another personnel involved in the operation. Both men succumbed to injuries sustained during a fierce gunfight with TTP militants, a group that has intensified its activities in the region over the past few years.

Major Moiz Abbas Shah’s Role in 2019 Balakot Aftermath

Moiz Abbas Shah gained visibility in 2019 when he publicly claimed to have been part of the group that captured Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman during the post-Balakot airstrike military escalation between India and Pakistan. Following India's airstrike in Balakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Indian Air Force had carried out a counter-offensive which led to a dogfight between the two nations’ air forces.

During that operation, Abhinandan Varthaman’s MiG-21 was shot down, and he was captured across the Line of Control (LoC). His dignified conduct while in Pakistani custody, as well as his safe return after international pressure, became symbolic of India's military resolve. Shah’s claim to have taken part in capturing him added to his image within Pakistan's defense circles.

The TTP Threat and South Waziristan's Volatility

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, has been active in South Waziristan, launching repeated attacks against the state’s security forces. Though the Pakistan government and military have launched various operations—including Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad—to root out militancy, the region continues to face sporadic violence.

The TTP has been reinvigorated in recent years, especially after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, which allowed more unregulated border movements and led to the resurfacing of terror hideouts in tribal areas.

This resurgence has led to a rise in targeted attacks on Pakistani forces, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), now merged into the province. The latest operation in which Major Moiz Abbas Shah was killed was part of Pakistan’s renewed military crackdown on TTP strongholds.

Significance of Shah’s Death in Regional Context

The death of Moiz Abbas Shah is symbolically significant, especially in India, because of his association with the high-profile 2019 capture of Abhinandan Varthaman. His military background in SSG, an elite force trained for surgical and covert operations, underscores the depth of Pakistan’s internal security challenge.

Notably, his unit’s primary responsibilities include anti-terror operations, hostage rescue missions, and counterinsurgency, reflecting the level of threat TTP poses even to Pakistan’s most trained personnel.

Shah’s death reveals the toll the TTP insurgency is taking on the Pakistan Army, which has already lost numerous soldiers and officers in its ongoing battle against terror. The Waziristan belt remains a flashpoint, not only for internal conflict but also for its role in broader regional instability.

Public and Military Reaction in Pakistan

The Pakistan Army issued a statement praising Shah and Jibranullah as martyrs who gave their lives defending the nation from militant threats. The military’s media wing ISPR described the two as brave soldiers who confronted the TTP terrorists head-on in hostile terrain.

Social media in Pakistan saw divided reactions. While many users hailed Shah as a national hero, others questioned the state’s long-term policy failures in dealing with groups like the TTP, once allegedly patronized by Pakistani security agencies to serve strategic interests in Afghanistan and India.

India’s Perspective: A Moment of Reflection

From the Indian perspective, the death of a military officer linked to the capture of a national hero like Abhinandan Varthaman carries symbolic weight. Abhinandan, now a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, was awarded the Vir Chakra, India’s wartime gallantry award, for his courage and composure in Pakistani custody.

The Indian media and public continue to regard Abhinandan's return as a diplomatic and moral victory, and the news of Shah's death may evoke mixed emotions—from strategic satisfaction to quiet acknowledgment of the risks soldiers on both sides undertake.

The Future of Counterterrorism in Pakistan

Moiz Abbas Shah’s death is not an isolated event. It forms part of a larger trend of rising militant attacks against security forces in Pakistan. In the first half of 2025 alone, over 100 Pakistani soldiers and officers have died in militant-related incidents.

The TTP’s growing aggression and ability to strike high-value targets point to a serious lapse in intelligence and border control. Despite a renewed push from Islamabad to negotiate peace or enforce military crackdowns, the insurgency continues to fester, drawing attention to Pakistan’s complex and conflicted approach to dealing with non-state actors.

Analysts believe that without a cohesive national counterterror strategy, these sporadic operations will only offer temporary relief. The lack of regional cooperation and the absence of trust with neighbouring countries like India and Afghanistan further complicate counterterror efforts.

Conclusion: A Telling Chapter in South Asia’s Security Landscape

The death of Major Moiz Abbas Shah, a figure associated with one of the most dramatic Indo-Pak episodes in recent history, has re-emphasized the internal threats faced by Pakistan from terror outfits like the TTP.

His death also underlines how former combatants in cross-border tensions can themselves become victims of the very extremism once used as a strategic tool. It is a reminder that terrorism respects no borders and eventually consumes its creators.

As Pakistan mourns the loss of a senior officer and India remembers the events of February 2019, the broader message for South Asia is clear: Without a unified stand against terrorism, the cycle of violence will continue, and so will the human costs on all sides.

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