The military’s media affairs wing said on Tuesday that six Pakistani officers and soldiers were among eight UN peacekeepers who lost their lives when a Puma helicopter crashed during a reconnaissance mission in the Congo.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the six Pakistani martyred officers and soldiers were identified as Lt Col Asif Ali Awan, who was the pilot, Major Saad Nomani, who was the co-pilot, Major Faizan. Ali, Naib Subedar Samiullak Khan, who was the flight engineer, Havildar Muhammad Ismail, who was the chief of the crew, and Lance Havildar Muhammad Jameel, who was the gunner.
The ISPR said the exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.
An aviation mission from Pakistan was deployed on peacekeeping duties at the United Nations Mission Congo since 2011, the statement said.
“Pakistan has always played an important role as a responsible member of the international community in helping to realize the ideals of global peace and security through active support in various UN peacekeeping missions,” the statement said. ” ,
“Our peacekeepers have always distinguished themselves in executing challenging peacekeeping tasks in conflict-prone areas through devotion and, if necessary, [by] making the supreme sacrifice. ,