In a recent development that highlights internal fractures within militant ranks, the banned outfit Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced a week-long campaign in honor of its chief, Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud. The campaign encourages supporters to pay tribute on social media and set their profile pictures to the TTP leader’s image.
However, the initiative has drawn sharp criticism from former TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, who dismissed the campaign as a desperate attempt to salvage Noor Wali’s declining credibility among jihadist circles.
Ehsan likened the tribute campaign to an election drive, accusing the TTP of resorting to propaganda tactics typically used by politicians desperate for public approval. “It feels like an election campaign—full of deception, lies, and false promises—just to gain support,” he added.
Analysts say the campaign is a reaction to recent internal tensions within the TTP, including the formation of “Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan” and rising friction with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, another militant faction. These developments have reportedly weakened Mufti Noor Wali’s grip on the TTP’s leadership.
Security experts believe the infighting and public criticism reflect a growing crisis of legitimacy among militant leaders. The use of social media campaigns, once unthinkable for jihadist groups that prided themselves on operational secrecy, now appears to be a desperate measure to maintain control and relevance.
The remarks by Ehsanullah Ehsan—himself a controversial figure—serve as a rare public denunciation from within the militant ecosystem and could further deepen divisions in the TTP’s already fragile structure.
