(Image Source: ABC News)
BY: JIAXI LU
ANCHOR: CHRISTINA HARTMAN
You're watching world video news analysis from Newsy.
The Taliban has released video of what it claims is 16 policemen being killed by firing squad in the tribal northwest of Pakistan.
BBC has the video on its website, but warned the images may be disturbing to watch.
“The men lined up on the left with only a few more moments to live are members of Pakistan’s security forces captured from their base. On the right, a local Pakistani Taliban commander -- accusing them of being enemies of Islam. He says God wants him to punish them. Then his gunmen open fire. The rest of the footage is far too disturbing to show, but the men are seen collapsing to the ground as they’re sprayed with bullets. ”
“They are the Pakistani police, soldiers and their supporters who recently lined up six kids in Swat and shot them execution style... These Pakistanis are now our captive and we will avenge the death of the children by doing the same to them. ”
Reports say the execution took place on June 1, but video was not posted to the website LiveLeak until Monday.
KOLD reports Pakistani policemen were captured during fighting in the northwestern
Dir district.
“Locals found the officers’ bodies after the militants had left. Pakistan’s army spokesman told the BBC the video appears to be authentic. The army believes the attack was carried out by Pakistani Taliban, who fled across the border into Afghanistan during the Pakistani army’s offensive there two years ago, but crossed back into the country recently. ”
The video of the massacre underscored the fierce fighting between the army and the Taliban along Pakistan’s border.
“The surfacing of this video suggests that the Swat operation may have been successful but seems to have driven out many hardcore elements farther northwest -- in the direction of Dir and across the border. ”
“The US military has refused to intervene. Washington has withdrawn all its forces from Nangarhar and most from Kunar, but special forces teams still operate in the area, carrying out raids on Taliban commanders. The tensions underscore the growing military complexities as western forces, regional armies and myriad guerrilla groups maneuver in anticipated of expected peace talks. ”
The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Transcript by Newsy.
