Six Pakistani officers, soldiers among UN peacekeepers martyred in copter crash

PM Imran expresses his ‘deep sense of shock and grief’ and pays glowing tributes to the country’s armed forces

At least eight UN peacekeepers including six Pakistan Army officers and soldiers were martyred after their helicopter crashed in Democratic Republic of Congo, the military said on Tuesday.

“Pakistan Aviation Unit is deployed in UN Mission Congo on peace keeping duties since 2011. On Mar 29, 22 while undertaking a reconnaissance mission in Congo, 1 PUMA Helicopter crashed,” read a statement issued by military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

It said the exact cause of crash is yet to be ascertained and eight UN peacekeepers on board including six Pakistan Army officers/soldiers have embraced martyrdom.

The ISPR identified the martyred official as Lt Col Asif Ali Awan, (Pilot), Maj Saad Nomani (Co Pilot), Maj Faizan Ali, ​​N/Sub Sami Ullah Khan (Flight Engineer), Havaldar Muhammad Ismail (Crew Chief) and L/Hav Muhamad Jamil (Gunner).

Earlier in the day, the UN Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) said in a tweet that it had "lost contact" with one of its helicopters which was on a reconnaissance mission in the region.

Also read: Pakistan’s long journey in keeping peace

"The causes of this disappearance are not yet known. Research is ongoing," the mission said.

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his "deep sense of shock and grief", his office said, paying tribute to the global peace effort by the country's armed forces.

Sources in civil society groups in the region said fighting resumed Tuesday morning between government troops and the rebels from M23, also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army.

M23 was defeated by the army in 2013 but has resurfaced since November and been accused of staging several raids on military strongholds around Rutshuru.

(With input from AFP)