PESHAWAR:
A key terrorist ringleader of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was eliminated in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Lower Dir district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the wee hours of Friday.
The terrorist, identified as Hafeezullah Mubariz, also known by his aliases Kochwan and Mubariz Dirvi, was the ‘TTP governor’ for Mardan and head of its ‘special forces’ in the areas of Malakand in Pakistan and Kuner in Afghanistan. He was a key figure behind deadly attacks on both Pakistani and US troops.
In Rawalpindi, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release that Hafeezullah alias Kochwan was involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as the innocent civilians and carried the head money of Rs10 million.
“On night 10-11 April 2025, Security Forces conducted an intelligence based operation in general area Timergara, District Lower Dir, on reported presence of khwarij,” the ISPR stated, referring to the terrorists belonging to the banned TTP.
“During the conduct of operation, own troops surrounded and effectively engaged the khwarij location, and after intense fire exchange, two khwarij including a high value target, kharji Hafeezullah @ Kochwan were sent to hell,” it added.
“Kharji Hafeezullah @ Kochwan was involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as the innocent civilians. He was highly wanted by the Law Enforcement Agencies and Government had fixed Head money of PKR 10 Million on him,” the ISPR stated.
The press release further said that a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area, adding that the security forces of Pakistan were determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.
According to an official here, Hafizullah’s body had been confirmed, and efforts were afoot to identify the other dead terrorist. The official added that Kochwan was involved in multiple terrorist attacks against security forces in the Pak-Afghan border areas.
Hafeezullah was a computer sciences graduate, who became a key operational leader of the TTP. He was one of the top consultants and a close associate to TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud. He was appointed ‘governor’ for Mardan district in 2023 and was leading TTP’s ‘special forces’ for Lower Dir.
Between 2009 and 2014, Hafeezullah masterminded multiple assaults, including cross-border strikes in Lower Dir and Chitral. He was also behind the 2010 suicide bombing that targeted a convoy of American troops, who were then training with the Dir Scouts of the Frontier Corps (FC) in counterterrorism.
Three Americans were killed in the attack, which occurred when the convoy travelled to inaugurate a girls’ school. At that time, then TTP spokesman had claimed that the bombing was in retaliation against Blackwater – a private military contractor working in Afghanistan.
Hafeezullah was born and raised in his native village of Naik Dera area of Upper Dir. He was influenced by Sufi Muhammad. He migrated to Afghanistan with Mulla Fazalullah – who later became the head of the TTP – alongside the Malakand Division Shura in 2009.
He had crossed into the Lal Qila, Maidan area of Dir, from Afghanistan recently and was guiding the TTP Tashkeel. A video and picture shared by the TTP suggested that Hafeezullah killing dealt a blow to terrorist outfit’s activities.
Meanwhile, President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in their separate statements, paid tribute to the security forces for eliminating the most wanted terrorist ringleader. They praised the professional competence of the forces for carrying out a successful IBO.
Zardari said that eliminating terrorist ringleader during the operation was a major success for the security forces. “Operations by the security forces will continue till the complete eradication of terrorism. The nation is also firmly resolved to completely eliminate the menace of Khawarij,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said, who is currently on a two-day official visit to Belarus, stated: “We will continue to thwart the evil designs of the enemies of humanity. Our war against terrorism will continue till the scourge is eliminated in toto.”
(WITH INPUT FROM OUR RAWALPINDI CORRESPONDENT)
