TTP Claims Responsibility for Killing of Pakistan Air Force Group Captain in Islamabad

Rebel group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the killing of Pakistan air force Group Captain Asim Tariq in Islamabad on Sunday afternoon. The suspect, now arrested, has been identified as Saad Abbasi (22). The TTP also released mobile video and CCTV footage on social media showing the slain officer in his car wearing a seat belt, something which repudiates Islamabad police's narrative that the officer went down saving a woman from an abductor on the streets. TTP said its "Special Target Killers Unit" carried out the killing. Tariq was attached to the intelligence directorate that recently provided the coordinates in the recent drone strike in Afghanistan which resulted in the deaths of a large number of children and women, sources said adding that he was also involved in the failed "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos" which was started by Pakistan in retaliation for Operation Sindoor. Islamabad police registered a case under murder and terrorism charges against Abbasi and he was produced before an anti terrorism court before being sent to judicial custody, media reported. Earlier, the police had told reporters that the PAF group captain was shot dead after intervening to rescue a woman from an alleged abduction attempt. The police claimed that the officer stepped in to stop the attack, giving the woman time to escape to the other side of the road. During the confrontation, the shooter was alleged to have abused the officer before opening fire. The officer sustained fatal injuries and died at the spot. However, the CCTV footage released by pro-TTP handles showed a woman riding on the bike with the accused, dismissing police's claims.