06 August 2004	Friday	19 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: Three officers and 10 soldiers were killed when an MI-17 helicopter of the Pakistan Army crashed in the tribal region of the Frontier province on Thursday, said the Inter-Services Public Relations.

Talking to Dawn, ISPR director-general Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan ruled out any terrorist involvement in the crash which occurred five kilome-tres southwest of the Karak district. He said a lieutenant-colonel, two majors and 10 soldiers had died in the accident.

He said another army helicopter was following the MI-17 when it went down after developing a technical fault and the officials did not see any missile (attack) or terrorist involvement in the crash.

Meanwhile, an ISPR press release said that "reportedly in his last conversation on radio, the captain of the helicopter informed the base about a technical fault and that he was going for an emergency landing."

The army high command ordered an immediate inquiry to ascertain the 'actual cause' of the accident, said the ISPR. The helicopter, which, according to an army official, was going to Bannu from Rawalpindi, is said to have caught fire after crashing. Army officials said that all the bodies had been recovered.