Pak Army’s offensive in Upper Dir under extrajudicial killing scanner
July 9th, 2010 - 12:38 pm ICT by ANI
London, July 9 (ANI): The Pakistan Army’s claims of killing nearly 23 militants earlier this week in Dir in Upper Dir District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province has once again raised the issue of extrajudicial killings, with family members of the suspected extremists claiming that they were in custody at the time of their death.
While the Army claims that the men were killed during an ambush, locals said that most of the suspects were handed over to the security forces by village councils.
“Most of them were school boys. Some got inspired by the Taliban and joined their training camps in Swat but were weaned away by their parents before they could get into real fighting,” The BBC quoted Saeed Gul, a local elder and former parliamentarian, as saying.
“Others were either close relatives of known militants, or had given shelter to militants at some time out of fear or favour,” he added.
The Pakistan Army has been often accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings of Taliban suspects to avenge militant attacks on military targets, but it has rejected all such allegations.
“The clashes took place in Kalpani and Upper Maidan areas,” said Brigadier Nadim Mirza, the top commander of operations in Maidan. (ANI)
- Pakistani forces kill 23 militants - Jul 06, 2010
- 25 Pakistani troopers killed in Taliban attack: Army - Aug 27, 2011
- 15 dead in Pakistan check post attack (Lead) - Apr 22, 2011
- 10 militants among 15 killed in Pakistan clash (Lead) - Sep 18, 2011
- Pakistan blast: 31 killed, Taliban claims responsibility - Sep 15, 2011
- Pakistani forces regain control of Upper Dir areas - Jun 05, 2011
- Militants kill three policemen in Pakistan - Feb 02, 2012
- Pakistani politician killed in blast - Sep 13, 2011
- Quake hits Pakistan - Aug 24, 2010
- 200 killed as rains, floods continue to wreak havoc in Pak - Jul 30, 2010
- US drone strikes kill 51 in Pakistan (Lead) - Dec 18, 2010
- Pakistan civil militias quit fight against Taliban - May 24, 2012
- UN chief condemns suicide bombing in Pakistan - Feb 11, 2011
- Taliban destroy over 50 NATO vehicles in Pakistan - Oct 07, 2010
- 14 security men killed in Pakistan - Apr 22, 2011
Tags: ambush, bbc, brigadier, clashes, extrajudicial killings, extremists, favour, militant attacks, militants, military targets, nadim, pak army, pakistan army, parliamentarian, school boys, security forces, swat, taliban, training camps, village councils