The Pakistani military has released the identities of six soldiers who were killed in a helicopter crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The helicopter crashed while undertaking a reconnaissance mission in North Kivu province.
It was carrying six crew members from Pakistan and two military staff from Russia and Serbia respectively.
According to the Pakistani military, the cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his deep sense of shock and grief, as the country’s
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has tweeted photos of the six soldiers.
Eight UN peacekeepers – six Pakistanis, a Russian and a Serb – were killed Tuesday when a Puma helicopter crashed in the troubled eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN and Pakistani officials said.
“While undertaking a reconnaissance mission in Congo, 1 PUMA Helicopter crashed. Exact cause of crash is yet to be ascertained,” the Pakistani military’s media wing said.
A spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres in New York confirmed the crash and gave the nationality of all eight victims.Congolese military authorities in North Kivu said M23 rebels had “shot down” the aircraft.
But the group denied this, instead claiming the Congolese military was responsible for the crash.