circumstances of their capture, the charges against them, conditions of detention, or political issues, such as elections in Pakistan. If their conversations venture into such subject matter, the U.S. military immediately severs the connection. 79 The U.S. military also restricts the language of communication for video and phone calls. Detainees and their relatives are only allowed to speak in a language understood by the translator present during the detainee’s conversations. Only Urdu and Pashto are allowed. 80 Any discussions in, for example, Punjabi or Kohistani, which may be the mother tongue of detainees and their families, are strictly forbidden. For many family members who speak no Pashto and only limited or no Urdu, they are unable to meaningfully communicate with their loved ones. Years of detention without charge or trial and only limited communication means children of detainees grow up knowing little or nothing of their fathers. Now twelve years old, Zain was only three years old when his father, Malik, disappeared in 2004. Zain says he thinks of Malik when he goes to school and sees other children in the company of their fathers. But after so many years of detention, he no longer has any real memory of his father: I don’t remember him much. I was quite young when he left. I remember he took me to school when I was admitted to Class 1. Then he disappeared and now I can’t even remember his face. I miss him. When I see other boys playing with their fathers, and the things they do together, I do miss him. I think of him then. 81 Though he misses his father, and looks forward to hearing from him, U.S. military restrictions prohibit Zain and other family members from asking about their relatives’ well-being. The U.S. military strictly prohibits any discussion of the conditions of detention at the DFIP. Not being allowed to freely communicate with their relatives in detention exacerbates the worry and mistrust of families in Pakistan. Detainees have also missed out on major events in their families’ lives as countless weddings, birthdays and religious festivals go by in their absence, unable to share these events with their families. Issa, Malik’s father, passed away in October 2012, never again having seen his son. Malik’s family is not only deeply saddened that he remains in detention, but also that he has missed out on so much in their lives. As his elder brother told JPP interviewers: A few weeks ago, my daughter got married and Malik was not there to celebrate with us. How many Eids have gone by that we have not celebrated with him? How many joyous occasions will pass by without him being present? My elder brother passed away, and then my father passed away, and Malik was not there. 82 For some, their loved one’s ongoing detention can be harder to bear than their death. Najibullah is the younger brother of Ibrahim, held since 2003. He has always been close to Ibrahim and sorely 79 Justice Project Pakistan interviews with relatives of current detainees (names, dates, locations withheld). Justice Project Pakistan interviews with anonymous officials (names, dates, locations withheld). 81 Justice Project Pakistan interview with Zain, March 2013 (real name, location withheld). 82 Justice Project Pakistan interview with Malik’s elder brother, January 2013 (name, location withheld). 80 24