Talal urges WhatsApp to block TTP network spreading terror activities
PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry addressing a new conference in Islamabad. SCREENGRAB/ File
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has called on the international community and the digital platform WhatsApp to take immediate action against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)’s WhatsApp channel, which is being used to conduct terrorist activities, spread violent propaganda, glorify terrorism, and facilitate terrorist communications.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control raised alarm over the group’s digital footprint, Chaudhry said that the TTP—designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations and the United States—is actively using WhatsApp to send bulk messages that propagate violent ideology, spread harmful narratives, and glorify terror activities.
“The TTP is operating its WhatsApp channels and sending bulk messages to proliferate its violent and hateful ideology, to spread its harmful narratives, and for glorification of its terror activities,” Chaudhry said.
He also shared a screenshot of a WhatsApp group named “Umar Medi@ Urdu,” which was created on June 18 this year and had 369 followers.
TTP (UN & US designated terrorist organisation) is operating its WhatsApp channels and sending Bulk WhatsApps messages to proliferate its violent / hateful ideology, to spread its harmful narratives, and for glorification of its terror activities.
Pakistan has zero tolerance for… pic.twitter.com/4h3iKHE7ODThe Minister of State reiterated Pakistan’s “zero tolerance” stance against terrorism, emphasizing the country’s sacrifices in the pursuit of global peace.
Chaudhry urged the international community and WhatsApp to collaborate with Pakistan to counter extremist content by identifying and blocking such channels. “These accounts must be blocked, and necessary algorithms created to auto-detect and auto-suspend such handles and numbers,” he added.
The TTP has long used the internet and online media platforms to propagate its messages and garner public support. In 2012, Facebook shut down an account called ‘Umar Media TTP page,’ which the group had used for recruitment and propaganda, including the publication of a quarterly magazine and video editing.
Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover, Facebook also banned WhatsApp accounts linked to the Taliban. A Facebook spokesperson told AFP at the time, “The Taliban is sanctioned as a terrorist organization under US law and we have banned them from our services under our Dangerous Organization policies.”