Indonesian ambassador to Pakistan dies 11 days after Naltar crash

Burhan Muhammad had suffered 75% burn injuries in the May 8 crash; death toll rises to eight


Reuters/news Desk May 19, 2015
Burhan Muhammad had suffered 75% burn injuries in the May 8 crash; death toll rises to eight. PHOTO: RADIO PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD: Eleven days after the Naltar crash, Indonesia's Ambassador to Pakistan Burhan Muhammad, who was severely injured in the incident, died at the Singapore General Hospital early on Tuesday, local media reported.

"True, he had passed away, at 00:50 local time" Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Marsudi confirmed to Indonesian media in a statement, adding that the foreign ministry has lost one of its best diplomats.

"The envoy's body will be brought to Indonesia on Tuesday, " she further said.

Muhammad had suffered nearly 75 per cent burns when the MI-17 helicopter he was travelling in along with other diplomats crashed just before landing in Naltar Valley and burst into flames. His wife, Listyawati Hery was among the seven people killed as the military aircraft crashed through a school in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The foreign ministry has lost one of its best diplomats,"
Marsudi said.

On May 8, a Pakistani military helicopter crashed killing seven people on board including the ambassadors of Norway and the Philippines, wives of the Indonesian and Malaysian ambassadors died along with two pilots and a technician.

The envoys were part of a large group of foreign dignitaries being ferried to the inauguration of a ski resort chairlift in the town of Naltar.

Muhammad was initially treated at Army Burns Centre in Kharian, before he was evacuated to Singapore through an Air Ambulance on May 11, on the request of the Indonesian government. His condition there had improved after undergoing surgery, but was in an intensive care unit prior to the announcement of his death.

Pakistan extends condolences to Indonesia

Expressing deep grief and sorrow over the death of the ambassador, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday lauded Muhammad's role in promoting friendly relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Adviser to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi visited the Embassy of Indonesia in Islamabad today to condole the sad demise, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

They, on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan, conveyed their heartfelt sympathies and expressed profound grief on the loss of a trusted friend of Pakistan.

They offered that the entire Pakistani nation was praying for the departed soul and shared the sorrow and suffering of the bereaved family.

On this occasion, they also signed condolence book.

This article originally appeared on MetroNewsTv.

COMMENTS (5)

ishrat salim | 8 years ago | Reply He would have had better treatment in India instead, yet we must resign to the will of Allah swt as a Muslim, who knows best. May Allah swt give sabr to the family Aameen.
Brain-eating amoeba | 8 years ago | Reply Sorry to all Indonesians. Have no words to describe how painful it is for all Pakistanis to lose previous lives like this. A big sorry to Indonesia again.
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