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Shooting to kill

A few days ago, ASF air-guards on a scheduled PIA flight shot and killed two persons who were trying to slit the throat of another passenger, an MNA from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. One can only imagine the mid-air drama as the murderous attempt was made. The two ASF men had split seconds to take a decision, whether to attempt to overpower the two assassins or shoot to kill in the greater interest of the safety of not only the person attacked but indeed the whole aircraft with its full complement of passengers. Any indecision and/or delay would have had the same end result. At that point of time years of training and resultant professionalism took over, the two ASF air-guards responded in the only way they were expected to, they shot the two assailants and shot not to maim but to kill. Any other course would have been dereliction of duty that could have had unfortunate consequences down the line.

Regretfully, the whole episode has been approached negatively by the national media for the most part and the ASF has been pilloried from pillar to post for endangering the safety of the aircraft and passengers far (1) not discovering the “weapons” (a razor and a scissor) prior to the boarding of the aircraft (2) firing in mid-air and thus risking bullet holes in the pressurised aircraft and (3) using excessive force inasfar as “shooting to kill” rather than to incapacitate. Understandably the ASF has been obliged to answer its critics and go on the defensive in a situation where one feels they deserve kudos.

As for the incident itself was concerned, it is true that the items used as weapons could have been checked when passing through ASF security cordons. Almost any metallic object can be used as a weapon of convenience and the ASF detectors are in the main looking for instruments much more lethal. While this can be construed as an oversight, on this point ASF deserves benefit of doubt as excessive zeal in carrying out “sanitary” measures would alienate sensitive air passengers on a daily recurring basis. A grey area exists here which was conveniently exploited by the criminal assailants. With respect to firing in mid-air and thus risking holes in the pressurised aircraft, the ASF air-guards are armed and using ammunition according to strict ICAO regulations. The two trained air-guards well knew that bullet holes in the pressurised aircraft would mean quick de-pressurisation but nothing that the PIA pilots could not control, as such the initiative was always a risk worth taking. In any case this was not random shooting but aimed fire delivered very professionally and accurately by professionals who constantly do live firing practices. Which brings us to the last and major point of contention, the killing of the two assailants. To understand this one must visualise the drama being played out in mid-air in the slitting of a passenger’s throat, albeit the very slittable throat of an MNA. The two ASF guards confronted with this situation had no choice or time to make well thought out decisions. They had to operate in aggravating circumstances under extreme tension, relying on their instincts and training. There was the sudden scuffle in a confined space, may be a spurt of blood, much yelling and screaming. How do the air-guards, trained to protect the aircraft and passengers, even at the peril of their lives react in such circumstances? Here is danger, the source can be seen, the motives are not clear but clearly the attack is deadly! Do they aim for the knees, shoulders or what? Frankly, in the melee of all that was happening in a breath of time, the air-guards had only one choice, to immediate neutralise with extreme prejudice the source of complaint, and that they did by shooting to kill, immediately and without regret. That is the training, that is how it should be and the two ASF boys deserve all the plaudits they can get, all the kudos that can be heaped upon them is not enough. Col Otto Von Skorzeny, Germany’s “Commando Extraordinary” in World War II, in planning operations talked about exploiting human indecision by saying “Politics is the soldier’s curse!” meaning that many times soldiers delay decision while they debate the consequences, unfortunately this can be exploited by the enemy, whoever he or she is. Professional soldiers do not have the luxury of time to debate action, they have to react immediately and any indecision or delay can have fatal consequences. As for the ASF, after years of being on the receiving end, let them bask in their moment of glory, they fully deserve it and let us not be crass about denying them this small accolade.

Security cordons at the airports and air-guards are basically the first line of deterrence. Air guards are the next phase of deterrence. It is always a victory if a deterrence prevents an incident from happening but it cannot be shown to be a bluff. That would be an open invitation to disaster. The un-Godly must be prevented from taking law into their own hand and risking the lives of innocent passengers. Why doesn’t anybody try to hijack an El-al airliner? The reason is simple, air-guards at El-al (the Israeli airline) have a history of shooting to kill hijackers at the first available opportunity, this knowledge deters potential hijackers from risking confrontation with them with the same frequency as elsewhere. The action of the ASF air-guards is, therefore, welcome as it will act as a signal example to intending hijackers that they risk certain death if they try to hijack a Pakistani aircraft. While this will certainly not eliminate the determined terrorist or even a madman, it will act as a dampener of any enthusiasm towards air piracy.

From humble beginnings, ASF had made significant progress in their training and discipline that supports the accomplishment of their mission. A few short years ago they were derided as “a disgrace to the uniform they wear”, over the past two years we have seen an attitude change in their handling of passengers on the ground and situations in the air. Courtesy is becoming more frequent though more effort has to be made. From a below average status, the present commander ASF Brig Rashid Ali Malik has turned it into a force to be reckoned with. The net result has been better standards of safety for aircraft and passengers. The problem is that deterrence cannot ever quantify the number of times intending hijackers have decided against trying to force the ASF cordon, it can only be quantified by the decreasing of incidents and that is a statistic that has certainly come down. While ASF have been the target of criticism where it has been due, we must not deny them their share of praise. If this incident has taken place in the US or Europe or any other developed nations, the media would have made the two air-guards involved into national heroes for preventing cold-blooded murder by acting with reasonable haste and decisive intent. At least someone in Pakistan does his/her duty instinctively (and without regret).

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