Pakistan returns US helicopters used to monitor Pak-Afghan border

Pakistan on Monday returned the five remaining helicopters to the United States (US) which were given to the country to effectively monitor the country’s border with Afghanistan.

In 2002, the US had provided Pakistan with nine helicopters for manning the Pak-Afghan border to control militant activities. Earlier on October 15, Pakistan had returned four of these helicopters to the US.

According to reliable sources, the remaining aircraft were safely loaded on a transport aircraft in the federal capital on Monday and were expected to reach the US early on Tuesday.

It is important to mention here that these helicopters were being used by the Ministry of Interior’s air wing. The same helicopters were also commissioned during the Balochistan operation and in different anti-narcotics operations conducted in bordering areas of the country. In addition, the choppers helped the interior ministry to conduct counter-terrorism operations as well.

Moreover, sources said that Pakistan’s decision to return the helicopters would badly affect all security operations, including monitoring illegal activities on Pak-Afghan border.

Presently, the Ministry of Interior had been left with only three Cessna aircraft in its air wing, which were not as efficient as the US helicopters to conduct surveillance activities.