A Mi-17 helicopter belonging to the Punjab government in Pakistan crash-landed in the Logar province of Afghanistan on Thursday. Taliban insurgents reportedly set the chopper on fire and took the crew hostage.
The helicopter, which was carrying seven people, including retired military officers and a Russian navigator, was on its way to Russia via Uzbekistan for maintenance work and "overhauling" when the incident happened, Dawn News reported.
However, TOLO News in Afghanistan reported that the chopper belonged to the Pakistani military.
The channel quoted provincial governor's spokesman Saleem Saleeh as saying that the helicopter crashed in Azra district's Mati area in Afghanistan, while adding that it might have caught fire after landing.
However, local residents said that it was the Taliban who set the chopper on fire after it crash-landed.
The Inter-Service Public Relations in Pakistan reportedly said that Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has contacted General Nicolson, the Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, for help to locate the helicopter crew.
"Gen Nicolson has assured all possible help in this regard," Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa, Pakistan military's spokesperson, was quoted by Dawn News as saying. The Afghanistan government and the National Army authorities had also been contacted for all possible assistance.
#COAS called Gen Nicolson,Comd RSM in Afgn,asked him to help in recovery of crew of Punjab govt heli that crash landed in logar province-1/3
— Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 4, 2016
while on its way to Russia via Uzbekistan.Heli was going to Russia for maintenance.Gen Nicolson assured all possible help in this regard-2 — Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 4, 2016
Afghan govt and ANA authorities have also been contacted for necessary assistance in recovery of the crew members-3
— Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 4, 2016
All seven crew members reportedly survived the crash.
Militant group Taliban has not commented on the incident yet.
