Pakistan Army Major Moiz AAbbas Shah, who captured Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in 2019, was recently killed in Taliban clash.
As per reports, Shah was one of two personnel killed in a clash with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. Security forces killed 11 terrorists, while two security personnel also lost their lives, during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the South Waziristan district of Pakistan, the military said in a statement on Tuesday.
Following India’s attack on a terrorist-training camp at Balakot in Pakistan on February 26 - 12 days after the Pulwama attack - Pakistan responded with a plan to target India’s military installations. A fleet of up to 24 fighter jets headed towards India, drawing a prompt response from India. An aerial dogfight ensued. Varthaman, was part of the Indian pushback team of Srinagar-based 51 Squadron. His plane was shot down by Pakistan fighter jets. Abhinandan Varthaman ejected the plane to land on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC).
He became the focus of India-Pakistan tension after his capture. Hectic back-channel communications took place. India reportedly foiled Pakistan’s attempt to use Abhinandan Varthaman as a bargaining tool with a blunt warning of further retaliation.
Finally, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced Abhinandan Varthaman’s release as a “gesture of peace” - a decision that was widely seen as a victory of the Modi government’s aggressive intent. Modi said Abhinandan Varthaman made India proud.
Abhinandan Varthaman returned to India 58 hours after he was captured by Pakistan. He walked through the Attari-Wagah border on the night of February 28.