Crash landing: Afghan Taliban ‘capture’ helicopter with foreigners on board

Turkish foreign ministry says eight nationals on board; Taliban say most are American.

ISLAMABAD:

The Afghan Taliban claimed on Monday claimed responsibility for the capture of 11 foreigners – all ‘linked to American[s] and Nato’ – on board a helicopter that was forced to make an emergency landing in the Afghan province of Logar.

According to Governor Hameedullah Hamid of the Azra district, which is close to the Pakistani border, the militants in the area have links with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan of Hakimullah Mehsud.

Hameedullah said the authorities have already approached local tribal elders for the release of the hostages. “[As of now], there has been no progress in communication with the armed opponents of the government [the Taliban]. The passengers and crew members are still with them,” he said.

The governor casts doubt about the Taliban claim that there were American military officers on board. The information received, he said, suggested that the passengers were Turkish nationals accompanied by an Afghan interpreter. According to him, there were conflicting reports about the nationality of the crew members – they were either Ukrainians or Central Asians.

Hameedullah warned against the use of force, and said negotiations should be held to secure the safe release of the hostages.

The ultraconservative militia claimed the helicopter belonged to the ‘American army’. Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement, a copy of which was also emailed to The Express Tribune, said that “The Mujahideen burnt and destroyed the helicopter.”

Afghan officials in Kabul told the media that the helicopter belonged to the Khorasan Cargo group and was rented to a Turkish airline. They claimed that eight Turkish engineers were on board.Turkey’s foreign ministry said its diplomats were holding “intensive talks” with Afghan authorities to establish their whereabouts.

“The helicopter was carrying eight Turks, the pilots were Russian and Afghan. We believe they are in good health and Turkish officials are in contact with Afghan officials over the issue,” Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Levent Gumrukcu said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2013.