ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have successfully eliminated ahigh-value target in the restive North Waziristan region, dealing asignificant blow to banned militant networks. The operation unfolded inBaka Khel, Bannu district, where troops engaged a suspected terroristhideout based on credible intelligence. The deceased militant wasidentified as Aqib, known by aliases Umar Waziristani and Abu Saleh, asenior commander within the proscribed Gul Bahadur Group.
Aqib held a pivotal role in the group’s affiliate, Jabhat Ansar al-MehdiKhorasan, overseeing its notorious “suicide attack brigade.” This unit hasbeen implicated in numerous cross-border incursions and domestic assaults,exploiting vulnerabilities along the Afghan-Pakistani frontier. Hiselimination underscores Islamabad’s intensified counterterrorism effortsamid rising threats from splinter factions rejecting peace accords. Localsources confirmed the raid’s precision, with no civilian casualtiesreported.
The commander’s ties extended to Umer Mansoor Haqqani, a former chief ofthe Al-Badr suicide vest operations, who was neutralized in September 2025during a similar joint military-intelligence sweep. Aqib’s proximity toHaqqani highlighted his strategic importance in coordinating asymmetricwarfare tactics, including improvised explosive device deployments andrecruit radicalization. Security analysts note that such associationsamplify the group’s operational reach, blending Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistanideologies with Islamic State Khorasan Province influences.
This development follows a surge in militant activities post the Taliban’s2021 Afghan takeover, prompting Pakistan to bolster border fortificationsand intelligence-sharing with regional partners. The Inter-Services PublicRelations affirmed the operation’s success, emphasizing ongoing vigilanceagainst hybrid threats. Community leaders in Bannu welcomed the action,viewing it as a step toward restoring normalcy in conflict-prone areas.
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Experts anticipate ripple effects on the group’s command structure,potentially disrupting planned offensives during the winter season. Themilitary’s proactive stance reflects a broader doctrine of preemptiveneutralization, supported by enhanced surveillance technologies. Asinvestigations continue, artifacts recovered from the site may yieldfurther leads on transnational networks.
Source: www.dawn.com/news/1771234″>https://www.dawn.com/news/1771234
