TALIBAN FORCES CLAIM TO HAVE SHOT DOWN NATO HELICOPTER

       Kabul, 29 Jumadil Awal 1434/10 April 2013 (MINA) – Taliban group claimed responsibility behind the incident and said the helicopter was shot down by Taliban fighter, Tuesday (9/4), according to Khaama Press report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

       A Taliban spokesman said a specially-trained group of militants had shot down the helicopter.

        According to local authorities in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, a NATO helicopter crashed in Pechigram district on Tuesday morning.

          A border police commander for the 8th Battalion, Nasim Khan confirming the report said the helicopter crashed in Gera Khel area at Pechigram distrrict.

         Khan further added that Afghan police forces have been sent to the incident area and there are no reports regarding the casualties.

        In the meantime Pichegram district governor Mirbaz Khan also confirmed the report and said the helicopter crashed on Tuesday morning around 9pm after Taliban militants opened fire on the chopper.

          He said all the crews on board are feared dead following the incident.

          NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) following a statement confirmed, “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan today.”

         The statement further added, “The cause of the incident is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash.”

         Helicopter crashes are fairly frequent in Afghanistan, where the 100,000-strong international mission relies heavily on air transport as it battles the insurgency across the south and east of the country.(T/P09/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).