Drone Strikes Against Taliban Militants in Pakistan Do Not Kill As Many People as Crime in Karachi

Impact
BySuroosh Alvi

We hear about violence in Pakistan when it comes to the seemingly never-ending war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. But, in 2011, more than three times as many people were killed in Karachi than the number of people killed in American drone strikes in the tribal areas.

VICE founder Suroosh Alvi paid a visit to Karachi, where he filmed a documentary uncovering the lifestyle of Pakistan’s city. He wanted to experience one of the craziest cities in the country, where hit-men conduct assassinations in broad daylight, kidnap victims are held hostage in one of the largest wastelands in the world, and warring gangs battle to their deaths.

In this video, Suroosh joins the police on a sweep for suspected Taliban members, meets up with an active hit man who makes between $500-$1000 per murder, chats with the "don" of Lyari, who is wanted for kidnapping, extortion, trafficking drugs, and gambling dens, and investigates Pakistan's rampant opiate market. 

The VICE Guide to Karachi will air on VICE.com in five parts, and the first part began on June 4th. 

Watch the film below. Suroosh is taking your questions all afternoon and will be responding to your comments.