TTP’s Ehsanullah Ehan admits role of RAW, NDS in terrorism inside Pakistan

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army on Wednesday released video statement of top militant figure and former Tehreek- e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehan, who is in military custody.

Admitting role of intelligence agencies of Afghanistan and India for fomenting terror inside Pakistan, Ehsan said after the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in tribal areas, the TTP leadership fled to Afghanistan where RAW and NDS provided them complete support.

The army on 17th April had announced that one of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar top leaders and former TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan had surrendered himself to the security forces.

“Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) commander and former TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan has surrendered,” DG ISPR Maj Gen Ghafoor told media persons during a briefing without sharing more details.

RuF. Ehsan Ullah Ehsan exposes hostile foreign agenda & their designs to destabilise Pak. Our youth is our strength, shall never fall prey.

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) April 26, 2017

Ehsan said that he belongs to Mohmand agency and joined proscribed TTP in 2008. He said that he also served as the spokesperson of Jamaat-ul Ahrar.

In his statement, he further states that he has seen a lot in nine years with the TTP. These people misled the people in the name of Islam especially the youth.

The transcript of Ehsanullah Ehsan’s video confession

My name is Liaqat Ali aka Ehsanullah Ehsan and I belong to Mohmand Agency. I joined Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in early 2008. I was a college student at that time. I was spokesperson of TTP Mohmand back then and later on became central spokesperson of TTP and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.

I have seen a lot of things during these nine years in TTP, they mislead the people specially the youth in the name of Islam. They themselves never observed what they preached and raised slogans.

A group in TTP, extorted innocent people and attacked public locations. They even targeted schools, colleges and universities, but Islam does not preach violence.

When military operations began in tribal area, the tussle for the leadership intensified. Everyone wanted to be the chief of the organization.

A sort of campaign was launched for the top post after the death of Hakeemullah. Khan Saeed 'Sajna', Omar Khalid Khurasani and Maulvi Fazlullah were among the contenders for the slot.

Shura then decided to hold a lucky draw for the selection and Maulvi Fazlullah was selected to lead the organization.

What shall we expect from a person who is selected through a draw and from a man whose character is not so good, who married the daughter of his ameer (chief ) forcibly.

After Pakistan Army launched operation in North Waziristan, we fled to Afghanistan, where we established contacts with Indian intelligence agencies.

TTP leaders took money from India for every crime they committed and pushed the TTP men to the frontlines to fight against Pakistan Army and went into hiding themselves.

I spoke against taking Indian support. When they started taking help from RAW, I told Khorasani that we're supporting the kuffar and helping them kill our own people in our own country.

He responded by saying, even if Israel wants to support me to destabilise Pakistan, I will not hesitate in taking their help.

At that point, I concluded that the TTP leaders had some personal agendas and they were using the organization for their own interests.

The militant outfits have special committees in Afghanistan through which they communicate and coordinate with India’s RAW. The Indians have provided some special documents for traveling in Afghanistan, where these papers function like Pakistani identity cards.

Without these, it was very difficult to travel under the current security situation there.

Afghan and Indian forces used to help militants move around and assisted them in infiltrating inside Pakistan.

Since Pakistani Army destroyed several Jamaat-ul-Ahrar camps in Parcha and Lalpura and killed many of their commandoes in its ongoing operation, they've had to flee the area and abandon their stronghold, which has shaken the morale of their commanders and leaders.

I want to give message to those who want to come back from these camps. Stop what you are doing and adopt the path of peace, and come back to a life of tranquility.

When these militants were denied coverage in media they started using social media to target the youth.

They started misleading them and provoking them using wrong interpretations of Islam. They spread propaganda and statements that could turn young people onto their side.

I want to tell those young people that these people are fighting for their own interests and are being used by external forces.

Due to these reasons, I decided to turned away from them and surrendered before army voluntarily.