Pakistan

No relatives of army chief taken hostage by Taliban in Afghanistan: ISPR

DG ISPR says army is making necessary efforts for safe and early return of the hostages

News Desk August 06, 2016

DG ISPR says lives of hostages were precious and army was making required efforts for their safe and early return. PHOTO: REUTERS

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asim Bajwa has cleared the air, saying that the recently crash-landed helicopter's hostages being held by Taliban in Afghanistan are not related to Army Chief General Raheel Sharif.

“Rumours being spread about identity of various crew members of the Punjab Govt heli that crash landed in Lugar province, Afghanistan,” Bajwa tweeted on Saturday.

Terming the rumours ‘absolutely baseless’, Bajwa said, “None of the hostage are related to COAS.”

Further, DG ISPR said the lives of hostages were precious and the army was making required efforts for their safe and early return.

Rumours being spread about identity of various crew members of the Punjab Govt heli that crash landed in Lugar province,Afgn on Friday-1
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 6, 2016

None of hostage related to #COAS.Rumours absolutely baseless.Hostages Lives very precious,all efforts being made 4 their safe,early return-2
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 6, 2016

On August 4, a Pakistani helicopter heading to Russia for overhaul crash-landed in eastern Afghanistan. Six people on board were abducted.

Punjab govt helicopter crashes in Afghanistan, occupants held by Taliban

Following the crash, General Raheel called the commander of US troops in Afghanistan and asked him to help recover the crew. The Afghan government and Afghan National Army have also been contacted in this regard.

The Mi-17 transport helicopter crashed in Azra district, in the restive province of Logar, then caught fire, said the provincial governor’s spokesperson Salim Saleh. He added that no one was hurt in the crash.

However, some residents in the area said it was the Taliban who set the chopper on fire after it crashed and took the aircraft’s occupants hostage.

The Pakistani military and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Resolute Support Mission initially denied Afghan government and media claims that the helicopter belonged to them. “The helicopter is not of the Pakistan army,” a military official had told The Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (5)

Blithe | 8 years ago | Reply Who is spreading these rumors?? Bajwa is unwittingly validating the rumors by tweeting on it.

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply Helicopter crashes are not uncommon. This tragedy is unique because it has crashed near a human wolves den. It's a gift for human animals and those conspirators who are worse than any human animal.

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M.S. | 8 years ago | Reply Shame on those who are spreading baseless rumours. The fact is that a helicopter has crash landed and innocent Pakistanis are held hostages. Such tragedy can happen to anyone who flies from one place to another esp. over remote areas. General Raheel is in a thankless position. Shameless people would blame him in any situation.

Dessi | 8 years ago | Reply @ Chacha Jee These are very sure to be Pakistani Establishment people that is why so quick and fast reaction from establishment. Otherwise, people get held for years and supposedly no one knows where they are. I am glad Americans are holding money. I think, Indian or Raw should get involved and get innocent indian abducted by Pakistan's establishment Kulbushan Jadhav could go home. Else let talibans play football.

Chacha Jee | 8 years ago | Reply These PPakistan (Punjab ) in a Punjab helicopter deep inside Afghanistan were on surveying strategic deapth mission for Punjab.

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