Latest news with #SyedMoizAbbasShah
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ultimate sacrifice: Asim Munir on death of Pak major tied to Abhinandan's capture
Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir attended the funeral prayer of Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, the Pakistani Army officer killed in a clash with the Taliban militants at the Pak-Afghan border. Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir attended the funeral prayer of Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah. (File photo)(AP) As he attended Shah's funeral, Munir recognised his "ultimate sacrifice" and said that Pakistan owed an "eternal debt" to its martyrs. Syed Moiz Abbas Shah was the one who claimed Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's capture in 2019 after his jet was shot down in an aerial dogfight. The dogfight took place after India's Balakot air strike on February 26, 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack nearly a fortnight prior to that on February 14. "The entire nation stands united in grief and pride, saluting his ultimate sacrifice for the defence of the country. We owe an eternal debt to our martyrs. The blood of our Shuhada is the foundation of our nation's strength," Munir reportedly said, according to an Express Tribune report. Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah was an officer of Pakistan Army's Special Services Group. He was commissioned into the Pakistani Army in 2011, and later became part of the Special Services Group (SSG). He was killed during a clash with Taliban militants in the Sararogha area of South Waziristan. In the same operation, 11 terrorists belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed by the Pakistani Army. 'Major Syed Moiz Abbas fought bravely in the face of resistance and ultimately laid down his life in the line of duty, upholding the highest traditions of bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism,' the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement quoted Munir as saying. The Pak Army officer's funeral took place in his hometown at Chaklala Garrison in Rawalpindi. Abhinandan Varthaman's capture Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was part of the Combat Air Patrol and was captured in 2019 after Pakistan's airstrikes in response to the Balakot Airstrike by India. The Balakot Airstrike was an Indian operation targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pakistan had deployed around 24 fighter jets to target Indian military installations, which led to a 10-minute aerial dogfight between the two countries on February 27, a day after the Balakot airstrike. Abhinandan Varthaman's jet was shot down in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and he was held captive for about 60 hours and was returned to India on March 1, 2019. Just moments before his MiG-21 Bison was shot down and he was forced to eject, Abhinandan Vardhaman successfully shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pak Army chief Asim Munir joins last rites of major tied to Abhinandan's capture
Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir attended the funeral of Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, the officer who had earlier claimed responsibility for capturing Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman following the 2019 aerial dogfight that occurred after India's Balakot air strike in response to the Pulwama terror attack. Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir(AP) The 37-year-old officer was killed during a clash with Taliban militants in the Sararogha area of South Waziristan, located near the Afghan border, on Tuesday. His funeral was held in his hometown at Chaklala Garrison in Rawalpindi. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed Munir's presence at the ceremony. 'Major Syed Moiz Abbas fought bravely in the face of resistance and ultimately laid down his life in the line of duty, upholding the highest traditions of bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism,' the ISPR statement quoted the army chief as saying. The major was buried with full military honours, the statement added. Major Shah commissioned into Pakistani Army in 2011 Commissioned into the Pakistan Army in 2011, Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah later joined the elite Special Services Group (SSG) and was deployed in the volatile Waziristan region at the time of his death. Following his killing, local media reports identified him as the same officer who had captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman in 2019 and shielded him from a mob after his aircraft went down during a post-Balakot air clash. A resurfaced video from his earlier interview with Geo TV, where he appeared as a captain, shows Moiz recounting how he captured Abhinandan. The clip has been widely shared on social media since his death. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban, emerged in 2007 as a coalition of various militant factions. Its stated goal is to enforce a rigid version of Islam across the country. The TTP, which Pakistan considers to be closely aligned with al-Qaeda, has been linked to numerous deadly attacks, including the 2008 bombing of Islamabad's Marriott Hotel, assaults on military installations, and the 2009 attack on army headquarters. Pakistan refers to the TTP as "Fitna al-Khawarij", referencing a historical group associated with rebellion and violence in early Islamic history. (With PTI inputs)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan Army's Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, who was promoted for capturing IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, killed
Syed Moiz Abbas Shah , an officer of the Pakistan Army 's Special Services Group, who had claimed that he had captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman after his jet was shot down in a dogfight in 2019, was killed in a clash with the Taliban militants, according to the country's army. The Pakistan Major was killed on Tuesday in a clash with the Taliban militants in the Sararogha area of South Waziristan near the Afghan border, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the army. What happened in 2019? Abbas was honorarily promoted to the rank of Major for his act. While Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir attended his funeral prayers on Wednesday, President Asif Zardari and PM Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences and praised him for fighting against the operatives of 'Fitna-Al-Khwarij', a term used by Pakistan for referring to TTP fighters. On February 27, 2019, Varthaman, then a Wing Commander, had downed an enemy jet (F-16) during an aerial combat with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Balakot airstrikes a day before. His own jet was subsequently hit, prompting an ejection and landing on enemy soil. He was held captive for three days and released by Pakistan on March 1. He was later conferred with the Vir Chakra, India's thirdhighest war-time gallantry medal, and promoted to the rank of Group Captain. Abbas (37) was an SSG commando from Chakwal at the time of capturing. Live Events The TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007. Its main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan. The group, believed to be close to al-Qaeda, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases, and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. Pakistan describes TTP as "Fitna al-Khawarij", a reference to a group in earlier Islamic history which was involved in violence.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Field Marshal attends funeral prayer of Major Moiz
RAWALPINDI: Funeral prayer of Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, who embraced martyrdom in an operation while bravely fighting against Indian-sponsored terrorists in South Waziristan, was offered at Chaklala Garrison in Rawalpindi. Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, senior serving military and civil officials, officers and soldiers attended the funeral, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Wednesday. On the occasion, Field Marshal Asim Munir said 'Major Syed Moiz Abbas fought bravely in the face of resistance and ultimately laid down his life in the line of duty, upholding the highest traditions of bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism. The entire nation stands united in grief and pride, saluting his ultimate sacrifice for the defence of the country. We owe an eternal debt to our martyrs. The blood of our Shuhada is the foundation of our nation's strength.' The body of the martyred officer has been taken to his native hometown of Chakwal where he was laid to rest with full military honours.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Army Major Who Claimed Abhinandan Varthaman's Capture Killed In Encounter With TTP
Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah had shot to limelight in 2019 after claiming credit for the capture of IAF Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman during an aerial dogfight Major Moiz Abbas Shah, the Pakistani officer who had claimed to have captured Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman in 2019, was killed on Tuesday in a major assault by the terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The attacks on the Pakistani Army in South Waziristan's Sargodha and Kurram areas come at a time when Pakistan is facing growing unrest with terrorists in its own territory, despite its history of supporting terror groups. According to sources, the TTP's attacks resulted in the deaths of 14 Pakistani personnel, including Major Shah. Meanwhile, some pro-Pakistan social media accounts have claimed that six personnel, including Shah, were killed in the Sargodha clash. According to a report by Dawn, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that Pakistani security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on June 24, 2025, in Sararogha following reports of the presence of militants. The statement claimed that during the operation, troops targeted the militant hideout, killing 11 individuals and injuring seven others. The ISPR confirmed that Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, 37, from Chakwal, and Lance Naik Jibran Ullah, 27, from Bannu, were killed in the exchange of fire. Major Moiz, who was leading the mission, was praised for his bravery and his role in multiple operations against the group. The statement added that clearance operations were ongoing to eliminate any remaining militants in the area. The Dawn reported that in July 2024, the Pakistani government officially labeled the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as Fitna-al-Khawarij Khariji —a term meaning outcast. What Brought Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah To Limelight In 2019 Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah rose to attention in 2019 after claiming credit for capturing Indian Air Force pilot Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman during an aerial dogfight following Indian strikes on terror bases in Balakot. The capture followed a fierce aerial clash on February 27, during which Varthaman's MiG-21 Bison was shot down after he brought down a Pakistani F-16. He was later returned to India by Pakistan on the night of March 1, 2019. The dogfight occurred a day after Indian Air Force jets carried out an airstrike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility in Balakot. The strike came in response to the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel. On February 27, Pakistan launched a counteroffensive, attempting to strike Indian military installations in response to the Balakot airstrike. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
