ISPR’s documentary wins Eserciti-e-Popoli award

Inter Services Public Relations Relations documentary has won the first prize in the recently held International Film Festival "Eserciti-e-Popoli" (Army and People) held at Bracciano, Rome (Italy). The festival saw the participation of NATO and 24 Countries with 60 Films grouped into several categories: from ‘Institutional training information, from environmental protection to the humanitarian mission for peace. The films, produced by renowned film makers were evaluated by the international highly qualified and experienced jury.

Maintaining the tradition, Pakistan Army’s documentary "Glorious Resolve" received the Jury's Special award from the President of the Italian Senate with the citation "A technically outstanding and emotionally powerful dramatization of the story of the courageous soldiers under fire in a dire combat situation".. The award given by Gen. Giancarlo Fortuna, the President of the International Jury was received by a representative of the Pakistani Embassy in Roma.

Glorious Resolve was the joint venture of ISPR and Mindworks Media.Brigadier Syed Azmat Ali was the Executive Producer whereas Brig Syed Mujtaba Tirmizi was the Executive Director of the film. Lieutenant Colonel Irfan Aziz was the project director and the writer of this film which was amicably directed by Sarosh Kayani. Dr Hassan Waqas Rana of Mindworks Media was the producer whereas Bilal Lashari was the Director of Photography.

Based on a true operational account, Glorious Resolve highlights the epic of infantry soldiers, who fought against all odds even being heavily outnumbered when 1500 miscreants raided one of the section level outpost of an Infantry Battalion in South Waziristan Agency on the night of 29 May 2009. This documentary focuses not only on

the sacrifices and achievements of the Pakistan Army in War against Terrorism but also the Pakistan Army's glorious resolve to uproot the menace of terrorism from the land of the pure. It reenacts the sacrifice of jawans of 43 Punjab Regiment who laid their lives and the two Ghazis Sepoy Mashooq and Sepoy Muslim who held their positions till the reinforcements came.

ISPR’s Documentary that won Eserciti-e-Popoli award in flim festival held at Bracciano, Rome (Italy) – 27-11-2011 –

Photo ISPR

US Says Pakistani Troops Fired on Helicopters

NATO has issued a statement today saying that Pakistan troops opened fire on two helicopters near the Afghan border. This is the third such incident reported in the past two weeks, with the other two reports involving US helicopters in South Waziristan. This report is unique, however, in that it did not come from anonymous officials over the denials of their military, but rather was an official statement issued by NATO itself later confirmed by the US military.

According to a US military spokesman the helicopters were two American OH-58 reconnaissance helicopters, and they received small arms fire from a Pakistani border post. He insists “they did not cross the border and they did not fire back.” The incident occurred in the Khost Province, which is directly across the border from North Waziristan. Pakistani military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said he is still awaiting a full report, but the incident is being investigated.

The United States launched two air strikes into North Waziristan earlier this month, killing 23 and 14 people, respectively. A third air strike was briefly reported, but that strike turned out to be on the tiny village of Al Must, just across the border in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani military has barred foreign forces from operating inside its territory since shortly after an incident in which US forces killed 20 civilians in South Waziristan. According to Major-General Abbas, the army has been authorized to retaliate against any incursions by foreign troops.