The six crew members of the Punjab government’s helicopter which crash landed in Afghanistan’s Logar province have been recovered and shifted to Pakistan safely, local media quoting sources reported on Thursday.
Six crew members including five Pakistani nationals and a Russian citizen were taken hostages by the Taliban.
Sources said the crew members were handed over to Pakistani authorities in Chitral.
The Punjab government’s Mi17 helicopter was en route to Russia for routine overhauling when it crash-landed in Logar on August 4.
Officials have yet to confirm return of the crew.
Earlier, the Foreign Office said on Thursday the Afghan government is involved in efforts to ensure safe recovery of the kidnapped crew of the crashed helicopter and has provided news on the crew’s condition.
“The Afghan government is in talks with the local tribal elders of the area where the Punjab government’s helicopter crash-landed with a Russian navigator and six Pakistanis on board,” said Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria.
“There has been a response [about the crew]. The crew is safe and they [Afghan government] are trying to involve the local elders of the area in the recovery process,” Zakaria said, and added, “All efforts to safely recover the crew are underway.”