Pakistan army accused of killings

[afghan]

even if these brave napak soldiers come forward and confess of shooting innocent kids there will be many out there protecting the napak army and another shameful thing most of the crimes by taliban were committed during the curfew. there are many who witnessed the napak army dressing innocent dead bodies as taliban, after they were killed. if one raises his voice either killed or threatened by the taliban.

[Admin Khan]

To whom it may concern,

But American officials, who did not want to be identified because of the explosive nature of the video, said it appeared to be credible, as did retired American military officers and intelligence analysts who have viewed it.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/wo....html?_r=1&hpw

[Feroza_Banu]

^yeah... everyone missed those lines in the news.

[Talal]

To whom it may concern,

But American officials, who did not want to be identified because of the explosive nature of the video, said it appeared to be credible, as did retired American military officers and intelligence analysts who have viewed it.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/wo....html?_r=1&hpw

and to whom it may concern indeed

The authenticity of the five-and-a-half-minute video, which shows the killing of the six men — some of whom appear to be teenagers, blindfolded, with their hands bound behind their backs — has not been formally verified by the American government. The Pakistani military said it was faked by militants.

Same Source

[Admin Khan]

Respected Talal,

It appears to me as if you didn't quite get the underlying message of my post. Your post is saying that the Govt and Army have not verified it, and quite obviously we know why they won't verify it. Let’s take another look at what I posted,

But American officials, who did not want to be identified because of the explosive nature of the video, said it appeared to be credible, as did retired American military officers and intelligence analysts who have viewed it.

I refrained from posting my political stance but what I exuberantly meant to do was to share that important message which paints a more different picture of the case on hand. Since there are now officials who think this is credible, it adds more weight to this claim that Pak Army has tortured Pashtuns and that Pashtuns are demonized. Two important things, right? I myself have seen Pashtuns in Karachi being treated like 2nd class citizens; I've visited schools and have friends who are Pashtuns who report similar things as well. I can further bolster my claims but I'd like to keep my thoughts to myself, at least for now.

Anyways, before I go off in a tangent, that New York Times article tells us that there are American think tanks and intelligence officials who think this video is credible. Key word in this context is credible. I did not imply in my post that it’s now verified but what I did do was to point out that this has indeed painted a negative image of Pak Army. In the USA, even an allegation can get you fired, I am pretty sure the US and Pak will attempt to hide this under the rug but what you have to realize is the negative implications this will have on the long-term Pakistani image vis-a-vis aid. If retired American military officers along with intelligence officials are acknowledging this video that means a lot in the world of politics. What do you say? Is it fair to conclude that the video is not fake?

[arman007]

Pakistan Army Fake Alleged Extra Judicial Killings Video

Pakistan has denied that its military has been involved in the illegal killing of civilians. The denial follows the release of video footage apparently showing uniformed soldiers lining up and shooting six young men.


Pakistan Army Pashtun Extra Judicial Killings Exclusive Video

Pakistan Army Fake Alleged Extra Judicial Killings Video [Video of the killings Warning: Contains Graphic Images]

[drona]

It seems, another video of HR violation has emerged.The video shows severe beating of a man and several dead bodies, including one of an elderly person.Viewer discretion advised.
YouTube - Askar memukul taliban
Related article can be read here : New Video Appears to Show Abuse of Prisoners by Pakistani Military - NYTimes.com
Excerpts from the article:

On Friday, a person from the Swat Valley, who wanted to remain anonymous for safety concerns, told The Times that the newly discovered video of the prisoners being beaten, which was uploaded to YouTube in May, seemed to have been shot in Khawazakhela, north of the town of Mingora.

The men in uniform question the prisoner in a mix of Urdu and Pashtun, but speak among themselves in Punjabi.

“Are you a Talib?” Mixed in with other questions is some laughter and the suggestion “Beat him so that he knows what beating is.”

Last year, a military officer serving in the Swat Valley during a large-scale offensive against Taliban insurgents showed The Times photographs of suspected militants (..14-16 yr old ?) who had been executed while in custody. The officer, who insisted on anonymity, also said he had video, shot on his phone, that he did not want to share. He claimed to have recorded images of the extrajudicial killings, which he called rampant, because he opposed them and was concerned that such practices would damage the army’s struggle against militancy.

[Toramana]

From their dark faces, one can instantly guess they are the "gabro jawans" from the Punjab Regiment. True to their typical nature, they are behaving in Swat as if they are an imperial army having conquered an aboriginal land. An acquintance of mine who served as bureaucrat in Swat during 2008-2009 once said, "I wonder whether it is a colonial army ..."

[Wrayun]

So they were being asked if they were "Talibs"?

This brings me to another point, who invited the Pakistani army into the regions and begged the internationally community to put pressure on Pakistan after the video depicting a girl being whipped was publicized world over?

If these men being tortured and those kids being killed belong to those "EVIL TALIBS" that most everyone here deplore, what would you make of it? I remember some friends telling me from SWAT that after the army arrival in the regions, locals who were abused by the Talibs joined the army in pointing out people, and took matters in their own hands to take "badal" against the mullahgaans.

This is in no effort to support what these savages are doing to these men, guilty or not, but we have to also understand how this happened. How many are arguing in Afghanistan for NATO forces, who are now reportedly collecting Afghan body parts as trophies, to implement "democracy" ignoring what it will lead to. Some will even justify the rapes of Afghan women by quoting Islamic hadeeths. Who are inviting the gabro jawaans and disco peryaangyan?

The hypocrisy on all sides is deplorable. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.