Ehsanullah Ehsan, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) former spokesperson, claimed that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) offered him “millions of dollars” in exchange for his return to Pakistan or to “keep quiet” on the circumstances that led to his arrest and his escape from the country.
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Ehsan had surrendered to the Pakistani military in 2017 after having a public fallout with TTP leader Fazal Hayat. He was the mastermind behind the 2015 Peshawar school attack by a Taliban gunman in Peshawar’s Army Public School that led to the death of 148 people, most of whom were children. He has also been accused of shooting Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Prize winner and a human rights activist, in 2012 for her campaign supporting girls’ education. However, despite spending years in the custody of the military, he has never been charged.
In 2020, he mysteriously escaped from custody and fled the country and in January that year, he released an audio clip saying that he was currently in Turkey. Following his escape, he once again threatened Yousafzai and warned her that “there would be no mistake” next time, referring to her miraculous survival following his first attempt on her life. Following this, she questioned the Pakistani military about his escape.
This is the ex-spokesperson of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan who claims responsibility for the attack on me and many innocent people. He is now threatening people on social media. How did he escape @OfficialDGISPR @ImranKhanPTI? https://t.co/1RDdZaxprs
— Malala (@Malala) February 16, 2021
The claims were made in a blog post, which Ehsan published on Tuesday. In the article, he claimed that his return in 2017 had been brokered by the Pakistani military who had made “special arrangements” for his return following long-lasting negotiations and discussions.
During this time, he said, once he began cooperating with the military, the hospitality began to wane. He said that he had been forced to give a “false and scripted confessional statement” claiming links to India and Israel. Owing to the military’s “lies” and “deception,” he said that he plotted for a year and finally successfully escaped from the military’s custody.
In the confession, he had said that his Jama’at-e-Ahrar group, which he formed after breaking away from the TTP, had ties with India and its security organisations. He further said that the group was working with “non-believers” to “kill our own people in our own country.” Further, he said, “Even if Israel wants to fund me to destabilise Pakistan, I will not hesitate.”
Following his escape, he claimed in his blog that the head of the ISI, General Faiz Hameed, had personally reached out to Ehsan and offered him millions of dollars along with land and houses in Punjab for his return or silence. He also apologised for his treatment in the prison. In his blog, Ehsan said that following his escape, the “arrogance” of the Pakistani military was replaced with a “soft and friendly” tone.
The calls for Ehsan’s silence or return come as the Pakistani government continues to be questioned about the circumstances that resulted in his escape. Pakistani authorities are also under the scanner of the Financial Action Task Force for their inability to curb money laundering and terror financing. Several international powers, specifically India, have blamed Pakistan for harbouring and breeding terrorists on its soil. Hence, the Pakistani military has sought to buy Ehsan’s silence in order to prevent any further questions about Islamabad’s ability to curb and punish terrorist activities. However, Ehsan’s blog post furthers the narrative of the Pakistani government and the military’s links with terror groups and terrorists.