Crew members of crashed Pakistani helicopter are safe, says Afghan envoy
Source: Xinhua   2016-08-05 15:11:47

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Afghan Ambassador in Islamabad Omar Zakhilwal said all crew members of a Pakistani helicopter that made crash landing in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday are safe.

Six people, including a Russian national, on board were taken hostage by the Taliban as the helicopter came down in Azra district of logar province, Afghan officials said in reported comments.

Pakistani officials say the helicopter was on way to Russia via Uzbekistan for repair and maintenance when it came down.

Afghan officials quoted the residents as saying that the Taliban took the crew members along with them and efforts are underway to secure their release.

The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has been quoted by Pakistani The Express Tribune newspaper that he is seeking information about the incident.

"All crew members are safe," Afghan ambassador Zakilwal told Xinhua in Islamabad on Friday.

He also confirmed the Taliban had taken the crew and that President Shraf Ghani has directed the Governor of Logar and the security forces to assist in recovering of the hostages.

"I am hopeful there will be a peaceful ending to this," he said.

Pakistani officials said the helicopter belonged to Punjab, the biggest province of Pakistan's four provinces, and that permission to use the Afghan airspace had been sought.

The military spokesman Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa has said Army chief General Raheel Sharif had spokesman to General John Nicholson, the Resolute Support Mission's commander hours after the helicopter made a crash landing.

"The Army Chief called Gen Nicholson, Commander RSM in Afghanistan, asked him to help in recovery of crew of Punjab government helicopter that crash-landed in Logar province," Gen Bajwa said on his official Twitter.

Lt Gen Bajwa added that the Afghan government and Afghan National Army have also been contacted for their assistance in recovering the crew members.

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Crew members of crashed Pakistani helicopter are safe, says Afghan envoy

Source: Xinhua 2016-08-05 15:11:47
[Editor: huaxia]

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Afghan Ambassador in Islamabad Omar Zakhilwal said all crew members of a Pakistani helicopter that made crash landing in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday are safe.

Six people, including a Russian national, on board were taken hostage by the Taliban as the helicopter came down in Azra district of logar province, Afghan officials said in reported comments.

Pakistani officials say the helicopter was on way to Russia via Uzbekistan for repair and maintenance when it came down.

Afghan officials quoted the residents as saying that the Taliban took the crew members along with them and efforts are underway to secure their release.

The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has been quoted by Pakistani The Express Tribune newspaper that he is seeking information about the incident.

"All crew members are safe," Afghan ambassador Zakilwal told Xinhua in Islamabad on Friday.

He also confirmed the Taliban had taken the crew and that President Shraf Ghani has directed the Governor of Logar and the security forces to assist in recovering of the hostages.

"I am hopeful there will be a peaceful ending to this," he said.

Pakistani officials said the helicopter belonged to Punjab, the biggest province of Pakistan's four provinces, and that permission to use the Afghan airspace had been sought.

The military spokesman Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa has said Army chief General Raheel Sharif had spokesman to General John Nicholson, the Resolute Support Mission's commander hours after the helicopter made a crash landing.

"The Army Chief called Gen Nicholson, Commander RSM in Afghanistan, asked him to help in recovery of crew of Punjab government helicopter that crash-landed in Logar province," Gen Bajwa said on his official Twitter.

Lt Gen Bajwa added that the Afghan government and Afghan National Army have also been contacted for their assistance in recovering the crew members.

[Editor: huaxia]
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