Pakistani security forces have neutralised another key commander of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), marking the latest in a year-long campaign systematically weakening the group’s leadership network.
The operation in the Meri Khel area of Khyber resulted in the elimination of Commander Abu Zar Tashkeel, a highly wanted figure within the organisation. Security sources confirmed that the bodies of all four militants involved in the clash, including Tashkeel, have been taken into custody, and search operations continue in the surrounding area.
Another High-Value Commander Neutralised: Commander Aryana
Prior to the Tashkeel operation, security forces carried out a major action in the Akbar Ali Khan Kalay, a village in the Asparka area of Domel, Bannu, resulting in the elimination of Commander Aryana, another senior TTP figure. According to sources, Aryana was wanted in multiple serious incidents, including attacks on security forces and police personnel, as well as setting homes on fire during militant operations. His elimination marks another decisive blow to TTP’s operational leadership.
A Year of Continuous Leadership Losses
The neutralisation of Tashkeel and Aryana adds to a growing list of TTP leaders eliminated across Pakistan and Afghanistan over the past year. Recent high-value targets removed from the group’s operational chain include:
Qari Amjad alias Mufti Mazahim, deputy to TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, killed during an attempted infiltration from Kunar into Bajaur.
Qari Ismail alias Aziz-ur-Rehman, shadow governor for Khyber, neutralised in Tirah Valley.
Commander Fazal Ameen and Qari Hidayatullah, veterans eliminated in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.
Security analysts say these successive losses are eroding TTP’s operational capabilities, cross-border coordination, and morale. Each commander played a critical role in planning attacks, coordinating cells, and linking Pakistan-based units with Afghan sanctuaries.
Systematic Decapitation Continues
Over the past year, Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations have consistently targeted TTP leadership across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, merged districts, and border regions. Figures such as Mohsin Qadir, Abdul Rahim, Ustad Janoori, Molvi Taha, Commander Mubarak Kochwan, Zainullah, Abu Saeed, Chhota Waseem, Rauf Afridi, Tahir, and Naqeebullah Agha reflect a chain of neutralisations that has steadily weakened TTP’s operational hierarchy.
The removal of Tashkeel followed immediately by Aryana underscores the intensity and continuity of these operations, leaving the TTP increasingly reliant on Afghan sanctuaries, where internal rivalries and exposure to targeted operations strain the group further.
Security Challenges in Tirah Valley
The Meri Khel operation comes amid persistent threats in Tirah Valley, where TTP has historically collaborated with local criminal and narco networks. On the night of November 13, security forces successfully repelled coordinated attacks on five posts in Tirah, killing seven militants. Verification confirmed attempts to misrepresent the incident as a drone strike were false, with images showing only minor injuries consistent with small-arms fire.
Investigations linked such propaganda to illegal drug operations, including large-scale cannabis cultivation in certain villages. Security officials emphasised that these efforts undermine law enforcement and public safety.
Operational Impact
The neutralisation of Commanders Tashkeel and Aryana reinforces Pakistan’s strategy of targeting high-value TTP leaders. Analysts note that while the group can promote mid-level commanders, repeated losses of senior figures create persistent disruption, limit cross-border operations, and reduce the organisation’s capacity to launch coordinated attacks.
These consecutive eliminations represent another step in a year-long attrition campaign, further weakening TTP’s operational networks and deepening the leadership vacuum across Pakistan and Afghanistan.
