8 die as Afghan army helicopter crashes in north Afghanistan

Afghan soldiers killed after their military helicopter crashed, but Taliban claim they shot it down

KABUL // Eight Afghan soldiers were killed on Sunday morning when a military helicopter crashed in northern Baghlan province.

Afghan defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said that five crew members and three army soldiers were killed in the crash, which took place in Dand Ghori district while the helicopter was supplying a military base.

Mr Waziri blamed a technical problem with the aircraft, rejecting claims by insurgents to have downed the helicopter.

One helicopter was on the ground while a second was patrolling above, when “suddenly a technical problem caused the helicopter to catch fire and hit the ground”, he said.

However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, saying the helicopter was shot down by fighters.

Two provincial officials in Baghlan also said the helicopter had been shot down by insurgents while it was supplying the military base with food, water and ammunition.

Qarghan Tapa base has been surrounded by insurgents for a week, leaving more than a hundred soldiers trapped inside, according to the officials. They said all roads to the base had been shut off by the insurgents and the only way to supply them was by air.

Mahmood Haqmal, spokesman for Baghlan’s governor, said that Taliban gunmen had stepped up their attacks in Dand Ghori and Baghlan-e Murkazi districts. Some civilians had been displaced by the fighting, he said.

Taliban insurgents have increased their attacks on Afghan security forces in northern Baghlan and neighbouring Kunduz province in recent weeks. The Taliban are still managing to hold out in the northern city of Kunduz as fighting there continues for the seventh day since the insurgents launched an all-out assault.

* Associated Press