PESHAWAR: A charter helicopter belonging to Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) crashed in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday after developing a technical fault, killing six people, including two foreigners, and injuring eight other crew members, police said.
Mari Petroleum is a leading Pakistani oil and gas company, primarily involved in the exploration, development and sale of hydrocarbons. The company’s principal activities include oil and gas drilling, along with providing energy solutions to the local market.
Rohanzeb Khan, a senior police official, said the crash took place in Pakistan’s restive North Waziristan that shares a border with Afghanistan and has experienced significant security challenges.
“The helicopter crashed near the Shawa Oil Field, a remote hilly area in the North Waziristan tribal district,” he told Arab News over the phone while confirming the death toll. “Initial information suggests the cause of the crash was a technical fault and no evidence of sabotage was found.”
“There were two to three foreigners onboard the helicopter but their identity is yet to be confirmed,” he added.
According to a statement released by the petroleum company, the helicopter was flown by three Russian pilots and carrying 11 passengers when the crash took place due to engine failure.
According to the Associated Press, two of the pilots have also lost their lives.
“The helicopter’s tail rotor hit the ground while making an emergency landing,” the police official said while sharing details of the crash.
However, he said further investigations were underway to ascertain the facts related to the incident.
Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where North Waziristan is located, expressed grief over the loss of “six precious human lives” in the crash, directing the district administration to ensure prompt medical treatment to those wounded in the mishap.
Six dead as Mari Petroleum helicopter crashes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan
https://arab.news/mvwfr
Six dead as Mari Petroleum helicopter crashes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan
- Police say the incident happened due to technical fault, with no evidence of sabotage
- The helicopter was flown by Russian pilots, two of whom have reportedly lost their lives
Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media
- Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior member of ISKP, used to head its Al Azzam media outlet, says state media
- Azzam was arrested in May while attempting to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have taken into custody Sultan Aziz Azzam, the head of Daesh regional affiliate ISKP’s media outlet, state media reported on Thursday citing intelligence sources.
The state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported that Azzam was a senior member of ISKP and hailed from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. As per the state media report, he is also a graduate of the University of Nangarhar where he studied Islamic jurisprudence.
Pakistan TV Digital reported Azzam joined ISKP in 2016 and later became a prominent member of its leadership council.
“He was arrested in May 2025 while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan,” Pakistan TV Digital reported, citing intelligence sources.
“He is believed to have overseen media operations and headed ISKP’s Al Azzam media outlet.”
In November 2021, Washington listed Azzam as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT). The move bars American citizens from engaging in transactions with persons designated as SDGTs.
According to a report on the UN Security Council’s website, Azzam has played an “instrumental role” in spreading Daesh’s violent ideology, glorifying and justifying “terrorist acts.”
“Building on his former experience as an Afghan journalist, his activity as ISIL-K’s spokesperson has increased ISIL-K’s visibility and influence among its followers,” the report states.
The report further states Azzam claimed responsibility on behalf of Daesh for the suicide attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, which killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 US service members and injured 150 more.
The development takes place amid tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad alleging militants use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
Tensions surged in October when Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in fierce border clashes, claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers of the other side.
Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban-led government to take “decisive action” against militants it says operate from its soil. Afghanistan says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
