Six Pakistani officers, soldiers martyred in helicopter crash in Congo

RAWALPINDI (92 News) – Six Pakistani officers and soldiers are among eight United Nations peacekeepers who lost their lives when a Puma helicopter crashed while undertaking a reconnaissance mission in Congo.

According to a press release issued by the ISPR, exact cause of crash is yet to be ascertained. The martyred soldiers were identified as Pilot Lieutenant Colonel Asif Ali Awan, Co-Pilot Major Saad Nomani, Major Faizan Ali, Flight Engineer Naib Subedar Samiullah Khan, Crew Chief Havaldar Muhammad Ismail, and Gunner Muhammad Jamil.

The statement said that the Pakistan Aviation Unit is deployed in UN Mission Congo on peacekeeping duties since 2011. Pakistan has always played a pivotal role as responsible member of the international community to help realize ideals of global peace and security during various UN peacekeeping missions. "Our Peacekeepers have always distinguished themselves in executing challenging peacekeeping tasks in conflict-prone areas through devotion and, if necessary , rendering supreme sacrifices," the release said.