QUETTA: Security forces killed an ‘important commander’ of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a gun battle in the Pishin area, officials said on Thursday.

Officials of the Frontier Corps (FC) said the terrorist was the mastermind of a suicide attack on the FC headquarters in Quetta, which claimed the lives of three FC personnel and 10 civilians.

They said the FC received intelligence about the presence of TTP terrorist Baseer in the Zarghoon Ghar area of Shahban in Quetta district, where he was allegedly planning a major attack. Acting on the tipoff, FC launched an operation, during which a heavy gun battle lasted for about two hours.

Officials said Commander Baseer was killed in the exchange of fire, while another militant was arrested.

They added that he was involved in several other attacks in different areas of Quetta. So far, 15 suspects have been arrested in connection with the suicide attack on the FC headquarters.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2026