How Pakistan clearly violated Article 13 of Geneva Convention
New Delhi, Feb 28: Pakistan has violated norms of the Geneva Convention by releasing a video of the Indian Air Force pilot, who is in their custody.
Releasing the video is in clear violation as spelt out in Article 13, which offers protection to prisoners. Article 13 prohibits the release of the video.
The experts say that the intention to first release the video was only done with an intention to humiliate. There was no need for Pakistan to release the video and India could have been informed through the official channels about the capture of the pilot.
How IAF shot down Pakistan's F-16 in an aerial dogfight
The Geneva Convention makes it clear that no photographs of prisoners will be released.
It further states that the prisoner shall not be put to embarrassment or be humiliated.
Pakistan, it may be recalled had released videos of the captured IAF pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman. After first releasing a video of the pilot blindfolded and spelling out his name and service number, another video of him sipping tea was released. In that video, he says that he is being treated with dignity. However after severe condemnation, the video was deleted by both the Pakistan military spokesperson and the information ministry.
Pakistan which had initially claimed that it had two pilots in its custody, later said that there is only one. "There is only one pilot under Pakistan Army's custody. Wing Comd Abhi Nandan is being treated as per norms of military ethics," Pakistani military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said on Twitter.
The rules protecting prisoners of war (POWs) are specific. They were first detailed in the 1929 Geneva Convention and later amended in the third 1949 Geneva Convention following the lessons of World War II.
According
to
the
rules,
the
status
of
POW
only
applies
in
international
armed
conflict.
"POWs
are
usually
members
of
the
armed
forces
of
one
of
the
parties
to
a
conflict
who
fall
into
the
hands
of
the
adverse
party,"
the
Convention
states.
It says POWs cannot be prosecuted for taking a direct part in hostilities.
All channels opened up at highest levels to secure release of IAF pilot from Pak custody
"Their
detention
is
not
a
form
of
punishment,
but
only
aims
to
prevent
further
participation
in
the
conflict.
They
must
be
released
and
repatriated
without
delay
after
the
end
of
hostilities.
The
detaining
power
may
prosecute
them
for
possible
war
crimes,
but
not
for
acts
of
violence
that
are
lawful
under
International
Humantarian
Law,"
it
says.
The
rules
specify
that
POWs
must
be
treated
humanely
in
all
circumstances.
"They are protected against any act of violence, as well as against intimidation, insults, and public curiosity," the Geneva Convention states.