TTP Commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur eliminated in precision strike

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has successfully eliminated notorious Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur along with several members of his leadership council (Shura) in a series of precision aerial strikes conducted across the border in Argun, Khost, Afghanistan, during the night of October 17-18, 2025.

According to credible intelligence sources, the targeted strikes were carried out against Kharji (TTP splinter) camps operating in the border regions adjoining North and South Waziristan. The operation was launched after confirmed reports indicated that militants of the Gul Bahadur Group had been planning multiple coordinated attacks inside Pakistan. These plots were effectively thwarted by Pakistan’s security forces.

“Based on precise intelligence, the leadership and core members of the Gul Bahadur Group were neutralized in the strikes,” said a senior security official, confirming that an estimated 60-70 militants, including senior commanders, were killed. Hafiz Gul Bahadur was reportedly buried secretly the same night, reflecting the high impact and sensitivity of the operation.

The elimination of Gul Bahadur, a long-standing militant figure responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s tribal districts, marks a decisive blow to terrorist networks attempting to destabilise the region. His faction had been instrumental in orchestrating cross-border attacks from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.

Security analysts describe the operation as one of the most significant counter-terrorism actions in recent years, reinforcing Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating all threats to its sovereignty and public safety.

This operation is in line with Pakistan’s resolve to root out terrorism from its soil and to respond decisively to threats emanating from across the border. The precision strikes signal a continued shift toward intelligence-based operations targeting militant leadership, a strategy seen as vital to degrading the operational capacity of terrorist outfits operating along the Pak-Afghan frontier.