In a rare and revealing commentary, former Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan has sharply criticized the propaganda machinery of militant groups, exposing how they manipulate narratives, fabricate victories, and weaponize media for psychological warfare.
Published on his Telegram channel, Ehsan’s detailed critique lays bare the inner workings of what he calls a “model media team” — a team not wielding swords, but crafting wars with words. His portrayal paints a grim picture of how militant organizations rely more on media optics than actual battlefield success.
“This team does not wait for real action. If nothing happens, something is simply imagined. A fabricated attack quickly becomes a ‘successful operation’ announced with fanfare,” Ehsan writes.
He accuses the media wings of these groups — including the TTP — of prioritizing speed over truth, and reaction over verification. They publish captions before confirming facts, delete statements silently when proven wrong, and never take moral or intellectual responsibility for false claims.
Ehsan further notes that these media cells are not driven by conviction or ideology, but by the need to maintain a relentless stream of content, even if it means distorting facts or falsely claiming credit for attacks.
“For them, responsibility is not a principle but a performance. If proven wrong, there is no apology — just a vague note: ‘This was not our operation; the information was incorrect,’ followed the next day by a new post, new claim, new lie.”
He highlights how such propaganda damages the credibility of militant movements from within — not because of enemy fire, but due to their own irresponsible rhetoric.
“This team injures the movement not through external attacks, but through its untimely roar. And when credibility is wounded, it needs silence — something this team doesn’t understand.”
The former spokesperson’s remarks reflect a rare moment of introspection and serve as a powerful indictment of the media strategies used by extremist groups like TTP to mislead followers, incite violence, and maintain a false sense of power.
While Ehsanullah Ehsan’s own past raises serious questions — including his role in justifying deadly attacks and radical messaging — his commentary reveals the deeper machinery behind militant propaganda, and why defeating terrorism requires not just security operations but also dismantling its narrative infrastructure.
This self-exposé by an insider underscores the urgent need for media literacy, counter-narratives, and fact-based reporting in the face of extremist disinformation campaigns.
