PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Friday called Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and sought his help for safe recovery of the crew members of the Punjab government’s helicopter.
“Afghan President Ashraf Ghani assured all possible assistance in this regard,” DG ISPR Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted.On Thursday, Bajwa had said General Raheel called General John Nicholson, the Resolute Support Mission’s commander, hours after the helicopter made the crash landing.
“The COAS 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,” Bajwa tweeted. “Gen Nicholson assured (Gen Raheel) of all possible help in this regard.”
The DG ISPR added that the Afghan government and ANA authorities had also been contacted for their assistance in recovering the crew members.
Meanwhile, senior members of the Afghan Taliban confirmed that all the Pakistani officials and one Russian pilot of the transport helicopter were in their possession and were likely to be freed ‘very soon.’
Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a statement said the federal government was in constant touch with the relevant authorities in Afghanistan and the state resources were being fully utilised to rescue the personnel who were onboard the helicopter.
“We are profoundly concerned about the safety of the whole team that was travelling on the helicopter. We have formally requested the government of Afghanistan to help in their safe recovery at the earliest,” said the prime minister.
Sharing the pain and agony of the families of the crew, the prime minister assured that all-out efforts were being made by the federal government and its agencies to guarantee the safe return of each member.
The MI-17 Russian made transport helicopter of the Punjab government crash-landed in Azra district of Afghanistan’s eastern Logar province on Thursday. Military authorities said the helicopter was heading to Russia via Afghanistan and Uzbekistan for routine maintenance. It is not clear yet if the helicopter was shot down or it developed a technical fault that led to its crash-landing.
Two senior members of the Afghan Taliban confirmed that all the Pakistani officials and one Russian pilot of the Pakistani transport helicopter were in their possession and they were planning to return them to Pakistan some time soon.
“Well, the area where the Pakistani helicopter crash-landed in Azra district of Logar province is under our control. On Thursday when the helicopter crash-landed, it immediately caught fire, but those onboard managed to come out of it safely. Our Taliban fighters immediately reached the spot. They took them into their possession and shifted them to a safe place,” stated one of the senior Taliban members.
Pleading anonymity, he said that after some initial investigations, the Taliban commanders found that people in their possession were Pakistanis, not Westerners, as they previously thought. Also, the Taliban said one of them was identified as a Russian national and said to be a pilot of the helicopter.
“Our fighters in the area told us they saw the helicopter in flames in the air and it then crash-landed,” the Taliban member recalled.“All the Pakistani officials along with the Russian national are in safe hands and are being looked after. They had been provided comfortable stay, food and everything they needed,” the Taliban commander said.
He said some initial contacts had been established with Pakistani officials and senior Taliban leadership through some Pakistani clerics for early and safe release of the Pakistani officials.
Another Taliban commander said that efforts were underway to release all the Pakistani officials and the Russian pilot and hand them over to a third party so they could return to Pakistan.
“We know Pakistan has approached Nato and US military commanders in Afghanistan and sought their assistance for recovery of Pakistani officials. They have nothing to do with it as the Afghan government has no writ in the area where the helicopter has crash-landed,” the Taliban commander said.
Interestingly, a militant belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) also approached the media and claimed all the Pakistani officials were in their possession. The Afghan Taliban, however, rejected this claim, saying the TTP has no presence in the entire Logar province.
“There is no truth in the TTP’s claim as the TTP doesn’t exist there. All of them are in our possession and are in a safe and good place,” said a member of the Afghan Taliban.The Afghan defence ministry on Friday confirmed that the Pakistani government had sought permission from the Afghan foreign and aviation ministries to use the country’s airspace.
“The Afghan government has instructed the defence and security agencies to investigate whether or not it was the same helicopter for which permission had been sought,” Afghan defence ministry spokesperson Daulat Waziri told reporters in Kabul.
Meanwhile, military sources said that four of the officials held hostage by the Afghan Taliban were retired Pakistan Army personnel.They said the helicopter flew at 08:45hrs from Peshawar for Bokharab, Uzbekistan, carrying six passengers including five Pakistani crew members and one foreigner (Russian). They were identified as Col (retd) Shafeequr Rahman, Col (retd) Safdar Hussain, Capt (retd) Safdar Ashraf, Flight Engr Nasir Mehmood, Crew Chief Mohammad Kausar and Russian national Sergei Sewastianow.
Meanwhile, it was learnt the government could approach the Chinese government for seeking the release of the crew of MI-17 helicopter from the captivity of Taliban. A Taliban high echelon delegation recently visited China and it is understood that they respect the Chinese due to their non-interference in Afghanistan.
The government here is exploiting all sources and working on all avenues for the safe release of the six member crew, including establishing contacts with the Afghan government, ISAF headquarters and circles presumed close to Taliban.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Syed Ibrar Hussain, who was in Islamabad for attending the envoys conference early this week, is returning to Kabul today (Saturday) to personally take part in efforts for the release of the crew. The ambassador told The News that three different groups of Taliban had their presence in the Logar province. It is yet to be ascertained which group is holding the crew.
“I am confident that we would be able to get the crew released unharmed as the people who have contacts with the Taliban in Kabul have reported the crew is safe and all the six people are being treated well.”
Ibrar Hussain said that he had established contacts with certain people for securing prompt release of the crew members but he would be in a better position to give a clear picture once he reaches Kabul. The army, Foreign Office and other relevant authorities are burning their midnight oil for ensuring the safe return of the crew, the sources said.
Reports from Kabul suggested that Ashraf Ghani instructed his security forces to recover the crew members of Punjab government’s helicopter, his special envoy for Pakistan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal said. The Afghan president has reportedly instructed the governor of Logar as well as security forces to assist in recovering of the hostages. The sources believe that there will be a peaceful ending to this.
Meanwhile, sources having inkling of Kabul government’s authority are of the opinion that President Ashraf Ghani is helpless in the matter and he can hardly play any role in security matters. The government will have to use unconventional ways for getting the crew of the chopper freed.
