ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan has ruled out involvement of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Naltar helicopter crash which left at least seven persons including two ambassadors killed.
In a press conference in Islamabad, the Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary said that the crash occurred due to technical failure of engine of the helicopter.
The foreign secretary strongly rejected the Taliban’s claim about hitting the helicopter, he said that Pakistan Army had arranged top class security for the visitors to Naltar Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Chaudhry explained that under instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Army had deployed about 1,000 troops for security purpose. He said that all the surrounding mountain tops were covered by these personnel.
The foreign secretary said that two of the helicopter landed safely at Naltar and the third one met accident due to technical fault near the landing site.
Moreover, he said that the prime minister had given the permission for trip of about 30 diplomats at the request of Dean of Diplomatic Corps.
In reply to a question he said that the Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has constituted an investigation board headed by a Brigadier to probe the helicopter crash.
The foreign secretary further told that black box of the ill-fated helicopter has been found.
A MI-17 helicopter carrying 17 persons crashed while landing in Naltar Valley on Friday, killing seven persons including Ambassador of Philippines Domingo D Lucenario Jr, Ambassador of Norway Leif Larsen and spouses of Ambassador of Indonesia and High Commissioner of Malaysia.
