by Shehla Rahim 31 October 2023
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders claim to champion a holy cause, but their actions paint a different picture. These leaders exhibit a complex web of duplicity, opportunism, and cowardice. TTP, notorious for its terrorist activities, operates from the safe havens of Afghanistan while its fighters endure a harsh, hostile battleground in Pakistan. Recent attempts at reconciliation with the Government of Pakistan further expose their opportunism as they seek to expand their influence within Pakistan. The cowardice of TTP leaders is laid bare by their reluctance to lead from the front, and their manipulative tactics extend to recruiting poor Afghan nationals for their nefarious purposes. Furthermore, they exploit their foot soldiers, treating them as disposable pawns in their game of power and money. To complete this sinister picture, TTP leaders have become puppets of foreign masters, forsaking religious and ethical values for financial gain.
TTP leaders claim to lead a holy cause while hiding behind the scenes, far from the actual battlefield. These leaders never lead their fighters from the front, staying safely ensconced in Afghanistan while their foot soldiers fight a futile war in Pakistan. Names like MNW, Mangal Bagh, Muhammad Khorasani, and Faqeer Muhammed are all based in Afghanistan, far from the real action. This duplicitous behavior showcases the hypocrisy at the heart of their so-called holy cause.
One of the defining characteristics of TTP leaders is their opportunism. While the foot soldiers struggle and suffer in the treacherous terrains of Pakistan, these leaders enjoy a comfortable life in Afghanistan. This stark contrast in living conditions emphasizes the extent of their opportunism. Recent attempts at reconciliation with the Government of Pakistan underscore this opportunism as they seek to increase their footprint in Pakistan. Their reconciliation process is nothing more than a calculated move to further their interests, revealing their cunning and deceitful nature.
A true leader leads from the front, especially in a battle for what they claim to be a holy cause. However, the cowardice of TTP leaders is evident in their reluctance to set foot in Pakistan and lead the so-called Jihad. Recent killings of TTP leaders serve as a testament to this point. Their failure to be on the front lines not only exposes their cowardice but also their detachment from the harsh realities faced by their foot soldiers.
TTP leaders employ manipulative tactics in recruiting fighters and in their dealings with the Afghan population. They target and entice poor Afghan nationals to join their Jihad in Afghanistan, even in clear defiance of the SHU fatwa. These manipulative actions serve two purposes: recruiting fighters from Afghanistan for terrorism in Pakistan and creating rifts between the Afghan government and Pakistan for their nefarious designs. The duplicitous nature of TTP leaders is further highlighted by their disregard for religious principles and their willingness to exploit innocent individuals for their sinister objectives.
TTP leaders treat their foot soldiers as disposable tissue papers, using them for their own gain and discarding them when convenient. This exploitation is evident in multiple ways. Firstly, leaders within the organization are known to eliminate their companions for the sake of power and money. Recent incidents have seen several leaders killed in Afghanistan, and these actions point to the ruthlessness within the TTP’s own ranks. Secondly, infighting for influence and power within the TTP organization is a glaring issue. The ongoing media war between Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) and TTP demonstrates this problem, and it’s expected to escalate into further violence, putting foot soldiers at risk.
Perhaps the most harrowing form of exploitation is the brainwashing of poor and innocent individuals for suicide attacks. TTP leaders manipulate the vulnerable, convincing them to carry out heinous acts on their behalf. While these individuals become pawns in a larger game, TTP leaders themselves and their close associates never actively engage in these deadly operations. This stark contrast between the sacrifices made by their foot soldiers and their own comfortable positions highlights the heartlessness of TTP leaders.
TTP leaders have stooped to new depths of moral degradation by receiving money and assistance from foreign backers. They have become puppets in the hands of these foreign masters, shedding the religious, ethical, and moral values that should be central to their identity as Muslims. In their pursuit of financial gain, they act as barbarians, using brutal force against their fellow Muslims at the behest of foreign interests. This not only puts their own agenda into question but also undermines the principles they claim to uphold.
The duplicity, opportunism, and cowardice exhibited by TTP leaders paint a dark picture of an organization that claims to be fighting for a holy cause. Their reluctance to lead from the front, comfortable lifestyles in Afghanistan, and manipulative tactics reveal the true nature of their motives. The exploitation of foot soldiers and their financial ties to foreign interests further tarnish the reputation of these leaders. It is essential to understand the dark side of TTP leadership to counter their nefarious activities effectively and protect the innocent lives caught in the crossfire of their manipulative and ruthless agenda.