COAS Apologizes for Tirah Valley Collateral Damage

[bumbgola]

I suppose then an apology is also due from the relatives and sympathizers of all these militants since as result of their actions 40,000 Pakistani lives have been lost.

Sure, but you think they care?

 

[Awesome]

Accidents happen, its good that the COAS did not put in any fake justifications and owned up for it. If the Military feels he is incompetent, he will be removed. I don't think anyone is accusing the COAS to have orchestrated their killings, it was largely a big mistake. A massive war is going on, screw ups will happen.

 

[shining eyes]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's army chief of staff, General Ashfaq Kayani, made a rare public apology Saturday over the deaths of civilians during military action and issued orders to avoid further incidents.

Military and political officials initially said at least 42 militants were killed in a gunfight and air strike in the Tirah valley of northwest Khyber district, where Pakistani jets targeted local Islamist militants last Saturday.

But tribesmen said dozens of civilians were killed and the military on Saturday released a rare public apology over the deaths, in what is part of Pakistan's lawless and semi-autonomous tribal belt neighbouring Afghanistan.

Kayani apologised to the Kukikhel tribe over the “unfortunate” incident “which resulted in loss of precious and innocent civilian lives,” the military said in a statement.

“He offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The chief of army staff stated that he has ordered measures to avoid reoccurrence of such incidents in future,” it added.

Political officials had tasked a six-member committee of tribal elders from the area to report on the precise numbers of civilian casualties.

Two tribesmen on the committee told AFP that 61 civilians were killed and 21 wounded, but so far there has been no official confirmation of the numbers from either the military or the political administration.

Kayani's statement provided no precise details on how the civilians were killed and military spokesmen were not immediately reachable for comment.

Authorities in Khyber - part of Pakistan's tribal badlands where Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants have a presence - set aside 10.5 million-rupee (125,000 dollars) compensation fund for any innocent victims killed or wounded.

 

[Peregrine]

Prophet Muhammad S advocated and implemented Qur'anic rules for the conduct of war, minimizing collateral damage, including damage to trees! Women, children and non-combatants were not to be harmed. When the enemy would stop fighting, they were to be given immediate sanctuary.

Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors.(Qur'an 2:190)

If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things. (Qur'an 8:61)

Thus the doctrines of protecting civilians, limiting collateral damage, granting amnesty to the enemy when they stop fighting, humane treatment of POWs and just and fair restitution were established. Only in the 20th century would other nations consider agreeing to such principles in the Geneva convention.

 

[Justin Joseph]

I suppose then an apology is also due from the relatives and sympathizers of all these militants since as result of their actions 40,000 Pakistani lives have been lost.

1. the militants will never apologize because they are militant and they don't think they have done anything wrong or will give some BS reasons for their deeds.

2. The families and relatives should not be looked as the supporters of militants as the work of a individual can't be taken as work of the whole family.

3. The PAF is right in apologizing as a professional force. But in future they should be more careful.

 

[iPhone]

Hello,

Coz the man whose house was bombed was a serving army soldier.Alots of reitired and serving on leave soldiers as well as family members of serving soldiers died in the unfortunate bombardment.

makes you wonder if militants had any hand in providing fake intel to the army. Orchestrating fake activities around the house, tipping off the army and getting it bombed in the process. I'm sure army corroborated their intel to the best of their ability before forwarding it to PAF but fact is that it was a huge screw up and many innocents lost their lives, so it has to be said that the intel should've been corroborated more efficiently and it doesn't need be said that screw up like these must be avoided in the future.