Pakistan is headed to the Emmys in the ‘Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary‘ film. ‘Armed With Faith‘ will be our first documentary at the prestigious awards.
The documentary film is not only made by Pakistani film-makers, but also follows the stories of men from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bomb Defusal Squad (KPK BDU).
Armed With Faith tells the story of the lives led by these brave Pakistani men, particularly two men Abdur Rahim and Inayatullah “Tiger” Khan.
“There’s only mistake diffusing a bomb. It will be your first and it will also be your last”
Film-makers Asad Faruqi and Geeta Gandbhir have co-directed this film. While former journalist Haya Fatima Iqbal was a co-producer.
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About Armed With Faith
The 2017 documentary film follows Pakistan’s KPK BDU. The story covers the struggles of two security personnel – Abdur Rehman and Inayatullah “Tiger” Khan.
Armed With Faith aims to highlight the struggles of the security personnel on the front lines of the war against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is situated along the Pak-Afghan border. Despite numerous counter-insurgency operations, terrorists manage to weave back and forth across the border.
The film-makers describe KP as ‘the gateway for terrorists from neighboring Afghanistan and adjacent tribal areas‘.
“The battle for control of this porous border area remains critical to the stability of Pakistan and global security. Should Pakistan, a nuclear power, fall into the hands of terrorists, the entire world is at risk.”
Amid all this KPK BDU is the only barrier standing in the way. These men take up a dangerous struggle to their home from the Taliban as BDU Commander Shafqat Malik explains.
“We are at the gate, gate of the war zone.”
KPK BDU personnel Inayatullah ‘Tiger’ Khan in Armed With Faith
BDU personnel Inayatullah “Tiger” Khan unwraps the ground reality of the war on terror and US drone strikes. From call-outs to defuse improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to suicide bombing.
He also talks about the struggles of being under-resourced, sometimes with little more than their bare hands.
“They don’t have the ability to get to the person flying the drones, but we are within reach, we suffer the brunt of their helplessness.”
Pakistan’s POV in the War on Terror
Cinematographer Asad shot the film in a way that lends a lot of respect to the people in the film.
“I have always made films about conflict and war as it has been happening in my backyard. As a Pakistani, I felt I should tell our story of who we are as a people.”
The film has been screened at the Vancouver International Film festival of 2017. As well as the Atlanta Film Festival.
It was previously screened at TRT’s ‘Belgesel Günleri‘ film festival. The Turkish audience members said the film really captures a struggle in this part of the world.
