Fact Check: Zia Ul Haq, the future dictator of Pakistan, massacred thousands of Palestinians in Jordan

Fact Check: "Zia Ul Haq, the future dictator of Pakistan, massacred thousands of Palestinians in Jordan"

What We Know

The claim that Zia Ul Haq, who later became the dictator of Pakistan, was responsible for the massacre of thousands of Palestinians in Jordan is rooted in the events of Black September in 1970. This conflict was primarily between the Jordanian government, led by King Hussein, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and other Palestinian factions. The fighting escalated after a series of hijackings by the PLO, leading to a military response from the Jordanian army, which sought to regain control over areas dominated by Palestinian militants (Wikipedia).

During this conflict, estimates of Palestinian casualties vary significantly. Some sources suggest that the death toll was around 3,000 (News18), while others claim it could be as high as 10,000 to 25,000 (Indian Express). Zia Ul Haq, at the time a Brigadier in the Pakistani army, was reportedly involved in advising Jordanian forces during this period (India Today). However, the extent of his direct involvement in the killings is debated.

Analysis

The narrative surrounding Zia Ul Haq's involvement in the Black September conflict often conflates his military advisory role with direct responsibility for the violence. While it is true that he was called to assist in reorganizing the Jordanian military, the primary aggressor in the conflict was the Jordanian government itself, which was acting to suppress the PLO's influence in Jordan (Wikipedia, PDF).

The sources that assert Zia Ul Haq's involvement in the massacre often lack rigorous historical evidence and rely on anecdotal accounts or interpretations of events. For instance, while some articles claim that he helped orchestrate the killings, they do not provide substantial evidence to support the assertion that he was a key player in the decision-making process that led to the violence (News18, Indian Express).

Moreover, the term "massacre" is used variably across sources, and while the conflict resulted in significant loss of life, it is essential to distinguish between the actions of the Jordanian state and the advisory role of foreign military personnel. The complexity of the conflict, which involved multiple factions and external influences, makes it difficult to assign blame to a single individual or entity (Wikipedia, PDF).

Conclusion

The claim that Zia Ul Haq massacred thousands of Palestinians in Jordan is False. While he did play a role in advising the Jordanian military during the Black September conflict, the primary responsibility for the violence lies with the Jordanian government and its military actions against the PLO. The use of the term "massacre" in this context is also contentious and should be understood within the broader scope of a civil conflict rather than as a direct action attributed solely to Zia Ul Haq.

Fact Check: Zia Ul Haq, the future dictator of Pakistan, massacred thousands of Palestinians in Jordan