OPINION | The FATAH Rocket in the Town Square: Military Spectacle and Civilian Endangerment

by Ashu Mann

Warfare in the modern era has acquired a theatrical dimension. Military operations are no longer waged purely on battlefields; they are simultaneously fought in the information space, where images, videos, and narratives are deployed as weapons in their own right.

Pakistan’s military has long demonstrated an aptitude for narrative warfare. The reported deployment of the FATAH series rocket system inside the populated area of Shakargarh, accompanied by footage of celebrating civilians, appears to be a striking example of this dual-purpose approach.

The FATAH rocket system is one of Pakistan’s most publicized indigenous missile programs, regularly showcased at military parades and presented as a symbol of national technological achievement. Its deployment within a civilian town, along with social media footage reportedly showing residents, including civilians who may be unaware of the risks, cheering the launch, raises immediate questions about the intent behind the choice of location.

At one level, this represents a straightforward case of the militarization of civilian space. By positioning the rocket system within a populated area, a zone of danger is effectively created around it. Any counterstrike targeting the launcher would place nearby civilians at grave risk. The Pakistan Army’s decision to position such a high-value, high-profile system within a town appears designed precisely to deter such a response.

At another level, the footage of celebrating civilians serves a powerful propaganda function. It creates an image of national unity and popular support for the military operation. It also potentially generates imagery that could later be repurposed in the event of civilian casualties, presenting the victims as enthusiastic supporters of the war effort rather than as people who simply happened to live near a military target.

The civilians seen in such footage deserve empathy, not condemnation. They may genuinely not understand the danger they are in. The presence of a rocket launcher in their neighborhood, far from being a source of pride, marks their homes as potential military targets. Under the laws of armed conflict, the moment a site is used for active military operations, its protected status as a civilian object is effectively lost. The cheering crowd may not know this. The military commanders who selected that location certainly do.

This is perhaps the darkest dimension of Pakistan’s approach: the weaponization of civilian ignorance. By staging military equipment in populated areas and encouraging civilian participation, whether through propaganda or genuine popular support, the Pakistan Army transfers the risks of its operations onto the shoulders of people who never chose to bear them.

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About the Author

Ashu Mann is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies. He was awarded the Vice Chief of the Army Staff Commendation card on Army Day 2025. He is pursuing a PhD from Amity University, Noida, in Defence and Strategic Studies. His research focuses include the India-China territorial dispute, great power rivalry, and Chinese foreign policy.

Disclaimer: This article represents the author’s independent analysis and perspective based on publicly available information. It does not constitute official guidance, intelligence assessment, or policy recommendation, and does not reflect the positions of Access Hub or any affiliated entities.