PM safe in Islamabad
The army helicopter crashed in Nalter Valley, Gilgit, Pakistan, on Friday. (Photo: AP)
Islamabad: A Pakistani military helicopter crashed on Friday in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing seven people, including the ambassadors of Norway and the Philippines and the wives of the ambassadors of Malaysia and Indonesia, and injuring 13 others.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed they had shot down the helicopter with a shoulder-launched missile, and added that they had been hoping to shoot down Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s aircraft. “Nawaz Sharif and his allies are our prime targets,” Taliban spokesman Mohammad Khorasani said.
“A special group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan had prepared a special plan to target Nawaz Sharif during his visit but he survived because he was travelling in another helicopter,” Khorasani was reported.
The Pakistani authorities, however, ruled out any terror attack, saying the “accident” happened due to a technical fault. “Taliban claim anything that happens. There was no terror attack at all,’ said a security official. The crash was also reminiscent of the one in 1988 that killed then military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq as well as the US
ambassador at the time.” The helicopter had been carrying diplomats to the launch of projects. The military statement said Philippines ambassador Domingo D. Lucenario, Jr and Norwegian ambassador Leif H. Larsen died on the spot. Polish ambassador Andrzej Ananiczolish and Dutch ambassador Marcel de Vink were also injured.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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