News

April 01 , 2022

 

UN Chief Expresses Grief over Martyrdom of Six Pakistani Peacekeepers

 

New York: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of eight peacekeepers, including six Pakistan Army officers, who were on board a helicopter that crashed Tuesday in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"An investigation into the crash is now underway. I wish to express my sincere condolences to their families and loved ones," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

A statement issued by the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday, said that the exact cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained.

The ISPR identified the martyred officials as Lt Col Asif Ali Awan (pilot), Maj Saad Nomani (co-pilot), Maj Faizan Ali, N/sub Sami Ullah Khan (flight engineer), Havaldar Muhammad Ismail (crew chief) and L/Hav Muhamad Jamil (Gunner).

The UN Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) said in a tweet that it had "lost contact" with one of its helicopters which was on a reconnaissance mission in the region.

"The causes of this disappearance are not yet known. Research is ongoing," the mission had said.

 

Back to Top