The Pakistani special forces officer, who once claimed to have captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman during the Balakot strike in 2019, has been killed, media reports said.

According to reports, Islamist terror group Tehreek-i-Taliban-e-Pakistan has reportedly killed him.

Major Syed Muiz, posted to the Pak Special Service Group's 6th Commando Battalion, was killed while fighting in the Sarargoha area in Pak's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reported NDTV.

Sources told the news channel that his death was claimed by the TTP, also called the 'Pakistani Taliban'.

During an aerial combat in 2019,  Varthaman became a national hero after he shot down a Pak F-16 fighter jet during an aerial combat.

During the dogfight, his plane was hit and he had to eject over the area controlled by Pakistan.

He was captured and kept in Pakistani captivity for nearly 60 hours.

Amid Indian pressure, Pakistan was forced to release the Indian fighter.

 Abhinandan Varthaman received Vir Charka in 2021.

He was also promoted to the position of Group Captain.