A recent video featuring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud has directly contradicted Pakistan’s assertion that he was killed in a Kabul blast on October 9. The TTP leader, who is clearly alive, is now accusing the Pakistani army of launching a disinformation campaign.
Operating from a secret location within Pakistan, Mehsud detailed how the Pakistani army allegedly fabricated news of his death. He described this as a strategic propaganda move to create the impression of progress against terrorism for domestic and international audiences, while the reality on the ground differs significantly. Mehsud also asserted that he possesses video evidence of the TTP’s strong presence in various Pakistani regions.
Noor Wali Mehsud assumed leadership of the TTP in 2018, succeeding previous leaders killed by drone strikes. He has since focused on consolidating the group, bringing together fragmented factions and intensifying the insurgency. Under his leadership, terror incidents have surged across Pakistan, particularly in the federally administered tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, reminiscent of the 2014 Peshawar school massacre where over 130 children perished.
This situation places Pakistan in a globally awkward position, further complicated by its continued, unfounded allegations against India concerning support for the TTP, which India vehemently denies. Analysts interpret Mehsud’s reappearance as a stark indicator of Pakistan’s inability to effectively manage terrorism within its borders and a challenge to its credibility on the global stage.
The TTP chief’s emergence follows intense border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. These confrontations began after Pakistan conducted airstrikes on October 9, targeting Mehsud and other TTP figures in Afghanistan. In retaliation, Afghan Taliban forces attacked Pakistani border posts, resulting in significant fighting before Pakistan responded with its own aerial attacks within Afghanistan.