UN Helicopter Crashes in Congo…..6 Pakistanis soldiers have embraced martyrdom ……..RAWALPINDI (By;Asghar Ali Mubarak ):A Pakistani PUMA detailed on an ISR Mission has crashed.Pakistan Aviation Unit is deployed in UN Mission Congo on peace keeping duties since 2011. On 29 Mar 22, while undertaking a reconnaissance mission in Congo, 1 PUMA Helicopter crashed. Exact cause of crash is yet to be ascertained. 8 x UN peacekeepers on board including 6 x Pakistanis Officers/ soldiers have embraced martyrdom. Details of Pakistani troops are as under:-
Lt Col Asif Ali Awan, Pilot
Maj Saad Nomani,
Co Pilot,
Maj Faizan Ali,
N/Sub Sami Ullah Khan, Flight Engineer,
Havaldar Muhammad Ismail, Crew Chief
L/Hav Muhamad Jamil, Gunner said an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release.Pakistan has always played a pivotal role as responsible member of the international community to help realize ideals of global peace and security through active sp in various UN Peacekeeping missions. Our Peacekeepers have always distinguished themselves in executing challenging peacekeeping tasks in conflict prone areas through devotion and, if necessary , rendering supreme sacrifices. More over according to the details pub;ished on a webside Pakistani PUMA ISR Mission was accompanied with an armed Ukrainian MI-8 heli; as per details shared by Ukrainian pilots, PUMA was fired upon from ground by an armed group; bullets struck the helicopter, caught fire in air and crashed. SAR mission has been initiated by UN authorities. Details of crew (all dead) are as under:-
Lieutenant Colonel Asif Ali Awan (Pilot)
Major Saad Nomani (Pilot)
Major Faizan Ali
▪Naib Subedar Sami
▪Havildar Ismail
▪Havildar Jameel (gunner)
▪️ISR Team (foreigners team), Lieutenant Colonel Alekesi Miziura (RUS), Lieutenant Colonel Deian Stanojevic (SRB)Pakistan Aviation Unit (Puma) was deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under MONUSCO in 2011. Since then, Puma squadron is serving the humanity. Pakistan has been participating in United Nations Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) since its inception and has so far contributed 54 Infantry battalions, 8 Aviation Units and 14 Brigade/ sector Headquarters with over 50 thousands Combatants.Congo; got independence from Belgium in 1960. However, since independence, Congo remained under serious political turmoil which led to internal security disturbances like President’s murder, military coups, two civil wars and genocide in which more then one million people died. UN first deployment took place in 1960-66. Later, to monitor the peace deal, UN re-opened its mission in 1999 which is operative till today.
