LONDON: Two British Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel and three others died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Sunday, the defence ministry said in a statement.

The five were killed when the helicopter crashed while landing at the headquarters of the Resolute Support international Nato coalition in the Afghan capital Kabul.

The nationality of the three others who died was not immediately clear. Five other people were injured.

"The incident is currently under investigation but we can confirm that it was an accident and not the result of insurgent activity," the defence ministry said in a statement.

The two RAF casualties were from the 230 and 33 Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, the statement added. The deaths bring to 456 the total number of British forces, personnel and defence ministry civilians killed serving in Afghanistan since Britain joined a US-led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.

In a separate incident earlier on Sunday, a British forces convoy was attacked in central Kabul, wounding civilians but causing no British casualties.

Afghan Taliban insurgents have stepped up attacks as Western-trained Afghan forces have largely been fighting on their own since Nato's combat mission ended in December.

Also read: No foreign aid agencies left in Afghanistan's Kunduz: UN

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...