Editorial

A controversial video

According to the NYTimes, a video shows an alleged shooting to death of suspected militants in Swat by army soldiers.

Editorial October 01, 2010

According to the New York Times, a video shot secretly has emerged showing an alleged shooting to death of suspected militants in Swat by army soldiers. The military has dismissed it as being fabricated but a senior unnamed official of the US government has been quoted as saying that the footage is quite likely real and not made up. The newspaper has also quoted two senior retired military officers of the Pakistan Army, both of whom have concurred that it is unlikely that the video has been fabricated. Of course, one can well understand the circumstances of the surfacing of the video, coming at a time when America is – by all accounts – aggressively pushing for Pakistan to take on the safe haven provided to the Haqqani network in North Waziristan (and also at a time when the head of the CIA was on a visit to Pakistan). In that context, such a video could be seen by some in Pakistan as an attempt to malign the military.

As for the details of the video, it seems to have been shot in an abandoned building and shows men dressed as soldiers shooting dead six men who appear to be civilians, thought to be suspected militants. But the question whether they are militants remains since they have been executed without due process of law. One should also bear in mind that in the months following the military operation in Swat to flush out the Taliban, reputed rights bodies such as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported that there were strong suspicions among many local people that those suspected of being involved in the militancy were being summarily disposed of — an accusation that the government and the military have always denied. However, instead of rejecting this particular video right away, it would be better if it was investigated and if true the culprits should be punished. Otherwise, in the eyes of the locals, the state and its military might as well be no different than the militants.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2010.

COMMENTS (18)

tariq | 14 years ago | Reply These vidoes are on the same line as were being made in theroses and jasmine garden in islamabad after 9/11 in 2001 by picturising fake talbans to defame the army.

Jawad | 14 years ago | Reply Lets just admitt the fact that this video is real. Pak Army executing - innocent men or talibans or RAW agents or murderers - I dont know ! But what I do know is that the death of these men is much peaceful than slitting throats, slow and painful deaths by any other means. And for those who dont know jack - please do some research on covert US solitary confinements, their torture and killing techniques. I'd say these guys are lucky to die like this.

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Angelos | 14 years ago | Reply The timing of the video raises a big question!!

Amna Zaman | 14 years ago | Reply This is one act that the citizens of Pakistan condemn. Some realities of war are painful I must say.

Hassan | 14 years ago | Reply The act if true then must be a misconduct by the soldiers. Indeed officially it is not the policy. The video might be prepared in Holywood or Bolywood to malign the Pak Army. I doubt its realty.

Asmat Jamal | 14 years ago | Reply How come some one would be allowed to make a video of such action. Every time its the journalist who reach such videos. Its bussiness of media to create controversy, cash it and than forget it. THIS IS FAKE

Waqas | 14 years ago | Reply I have blind trust in Pak army. Firstly, Pakistan Army never kills civilians or makes videos like this. Second, even if they did, I am 200% sure that those killed deserved it!! They should be happy not be slaughtered like cattle like Taliban do... Anyone who spreads terror in Pakistan, deserves this punishment!!

Waqas | 14 years ago | Reply Among us are certain people like "Ali Hassan" who want to go out of their way to malign and degrade one of the most professional and among the best armies of the world. Army is the only reason Pakistan is still there, keeping this country united. The likes of Ali are blinded by the crap fed to them by the Indian channels and foreign reports. Also they always cite the book Military Inc (a project funded by India and written in India) and a worthless piece of research by Ayesha (should not be called Siddiqa for obvious reasons). People like Ali Hassan can be equated to the the back stabbers (also called 'ghaddars') who have found a unique place in history. They specialize in making mockery of themselves and sell their motherland. Like Brutus in Rome or in recent history in sub continent the name of Jaffar and Mir Sadiq come to mind. Both were against their armies and paved the way for their benefactors to step in, but all these watan farosh get the same treatment in life and remembered as such.

Anoop | 14 years ago | Reply Man, this is brutal. I watched the video yesterday and it was barbaric how the Pakistani army jawans shoot the bodies which had life in them.

traitor | 14 years ago | Reply Nationalism is blindness

imran khan | 14 years ago | Reply forces must be on upper hand and everyone should follow the rules and regulation of state if anyone try to break it he/she must be Penalized in any manner... no matter who they r.. where they from or where they belongss... V SHOULD HAVE TO BE UNITED AGAINST ALL ANTISTATE ACTIVITIES... think if these ppl r Suicide bombers and managed 2 kill many innocents then what will b our reaction... still we want to leave these ppl aur pray 2 God 2 destroy them in their places... think like Pakistanies plz

Nadir Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Yes, they might have committed many blunders in the past, but one should reason before saying anything. Life is not all what the books tell you. Meet with real faujis and real soldiers someday who are serving there and you'll know how life is there for them. I lost two of my very close friends who were young officers in the operation in the north. You just cannot comprehend any of it. Still, You may go malign the image of the army - please render the sacrifices of those two friends of mine totally useless - and you may please malign the army so much that soldiers who are serving there refuse to give up their lives for anything worthwhile..

Ali Hassan | 14 years ago | Reply Those who are in love with Khakis, i ll suggest go and read; "Hamood-ur-Rahman Commission Report" written by an Honest Pakistani ex-Judge at that time. If still not satisfied with the "Great Army" go and buy Aisha Siddiqa's Thesis "Military Inc" to know how they are sucking people's blood. if even then not satisfied go and Read Tariq Ali's essays and books. Go and read the History told by Objective side with references 1965, 1971, 1999 Kargil, Kashmir and the political role of army, atrocities committed in Baluchistan. Just leave KP and FATA. think about other stories. let me give you a link and please come out from this state of continue denial, this is True, this is what happened there. By denying it, you become a part of this crime. Another one, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svL8fVLTRl8&feature=player_embedded say this is Fake Too!

Farhan Qureshi | 14 years ago | Reply 3 Million people from Swat were displaced, because they wanted army to clean the area. If the civilians in the video were real innocent, they should have come out as well, but as they chose to stay behind, means, they were linked iwth militia. So the Army jawans did the right thing. If the Americans have some problem with this, they deserve the same. (This is Sparta (Pakistan))

Adeel | 14 years ago | Reply Its a totally fake video. Can u imagine that ISI, the world's number one intelligence agency men would do such a blunder that they will kill civilians and will make a stupid video out of it? How can you think that its Pak Army when they are busy in saving thousands of lives amid flood and on the other hand involved in killing innocent people. Just a crap. Dont believe this. Our holly Islam says "The one who saved one life, he saved humanity"... And our men are Muslim they are here to save lives not to destroy.,,

Nadir Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Pretty easy to get six khaki wardis and make a video to malign the image of the army when the whole nation counts on the army to protect its sovereignty against repeated American incursions in the North. Easy to turn public opinion upside down !! way to go America !

Dr. Ali Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply i suspect Dr Usman's gang behind it, somehow

Ali Hassan | 14 years ago | Reply There is a long known history of the atrocities and genocide committed by the "Army of pure". problem lies with ignorant Pakistanis who don't read. there are plenty of genuine scholarship on the role of army during wars and peace times. This is a mafia who have enslave 170 million people, denying there right to exist or have there say in the matters which are solidly there and not of army. opting to be pessimistic, soon the world will see the re-telecast of Bangladesh model. The hatred against Military in Pukhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, and parts of Sindh are reaching red-line. further, the extra judicial killing of Pushtoons in KP and Baloch in Baluchistan are working like fire in the wood. It can be understood by views and comments posted on social networking sites and if anyone wants to confirm these sentiments they should visit the suburb of Quetta and Peshawar. it is pertinent to mention the significance of such immature videos which caused to grab the space of this editorial are speeding the process. The cognitive effects of these motion messages will vary as the culture and geography of the country changes. It would have different impact in Punjab where the families of soldiers have watched the video shot by there "brave" sons. They are going to believe whatever they say to them without asking any question. The other party, the hires of prey, would have a different story with feelings emotion and revenge. By this way, it comes to broader picture of nationalities, ethnicity, nationalism, and regionalism. it have has reached now, indeed. Lets see what come first now, a military coup or revolution for the dismantling of federation.

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