The Hindu : International : Concern over Musharraf’s security

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Tuesday, Oct 09, 2007
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International

Concern over Musharraf’s security

Nirupama Subramanian

Helicopter escorting the President crashlands; Brigadier among four killed

— Photo: AFP

BLOWN TO SMITHEREENS: The wreckage of the helicopter escorting President Pervez Musharraf which crash landed in Garhi Dopatta, some 20 km from Muzaffarabad, on Monday.

ISLAMABAD: The crash of a military helicopter escorting President Pervez Musharraf on Monday raised concerns about the security of the Pakistan leader who won a new term as Head of State in an election last week.

Four persons including a Brigadier, two soldiers and a cameraman from the state-run Pakistan Television were killed when the Army Aviation’s Puma helicopter crashed as it made an emergency landing near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

Four others, including President’s spokesman Major-Gen (retd.) Rashid Qureishi were injured when they jumped out of the helicopter as it crash landed.

Gen. Musharraf, who was visiting the area on the occasion of the second anniversary of the earthquake that hit the region, was in another helicopter.

The military said the helicopter made a crash landing after developing a technical fault, and caught fire on landing.

Soldiers missing

Separately, 50 Pakistani soldiers went missing in North Waziristan where 60 pro-Taliban militants and 20 soldiers were killed in clashes on Sunday.

The soldiers went missing on Monday, as Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who has been named Gen. Musharraf’s successor as Army Chief, assumed office as the Army Vice-Chief, the fast-deteriorating situation in Pakistan’s tribal areas and the blows the military is taking there underlining the challenge that lies ahead for him.

Last week, the militants killed three of nearly 250 soldiers they abducted more than a month ago, warning they would kill more if the military did not stop operations in the area.

Among the abducted soldiers, who reportedly surrendered to militants led by Baithullah Mehsud without firing a single shot, are eight officers.

The new chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Tariq Majeed, also took charge of his office on Monday.

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