A NATO helicopter crashed in Alasai Area of Afghan Kapisa province early on Saturday, with resistance groups claiming to have shot down the chopper and killing all on board. A NATO spokesman told reporters in Kabul that the chopper crashed due to technical fault, but said nothing about casualties. However, the Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan and the Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting down the helicopter. The HIA said, “All on board were killed”. The Taliban also made similar claims. But locals in the area said that copter landed or crashed at 4am and soon after, other NATO copters rushed and rescued the two people on board. On the other hand, Afghan authorities claimed killing three Pakistanis in a clash with militants in Lalpura district of Nangarhar province. Idrees Mohmand, a spokesman of border the police, said seven other Pakistanis were injured. All of the men were associated to Abu Hamza group, linked to Al Qaeda. Meanwhile, the Afghan government claimed arresting a senior Al Qaeda fugitive from Khanabad district of Kundoz province. Locals said the arrested man was Qari Bilal of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Bilal was living with another local militant commander. A NATO spokesman in Kabul also confirmed the arrest.
