Baloch insurgents claim responsibility for downing helicopter that killed a top Pakistani military commander

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Baloch insurgents have claimed  responsibility for downing a Pakistani military helicopter in Balochistan on Monday that killed Quetta corps commander Lt. Gen .Sarfraz Ali and five others, most of whom were senior military officers.</p>
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“Fighters of Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) targeted a Pakistani military helicopter in a mountainous range between Windar and Noorani in Balochistan yesterday. Detailed statement will be released to the media later today” BRAS tweeted in the evening on Tuesday.</p>
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Fighters of Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) targeted a Pakistani military helicopter in a mountainous range between Windar and Noorani in Balochistan yesterday. Detailed statement will be released to the media later today.</p>
— Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar | BRAS (@Bras_Media03) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bras_Media03/status/1554444678887505922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Earlier the media wing of the Pak military, ISPR acknowledged that six people including Lt. General Sarfraz Ali were killed in the crash. The others include Brigadier Amjad Haneef (DG Coast Guard), Major Saeed (the pilot), Major Talha (the co-pilot) and Naik Mudasir (crew member).</p>
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The ISPR tweet confirmed the wreckage of the unfortunate helicopter, which was on flood relief operations found in Musa Goth, Windar, Lasbela.</p>
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Incidentally, Lt. General Sarfraz, was interviewed by former prime minister Imran Khan for the post of director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in October last year.</p>
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The wreckage of unfortunate hel which was on flood relief ops found in Musa Goth, Windar, Lasbela. All 6 offrs & sldrs incl Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali embraced shahadat. اِنّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ<br />
Accident occurred due to bad weather as per initial investigations . DTF <a href="https://t.co/dnyano2vqC">pic.twitter.com/dnyano2vqC</a></p>
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/1554412034967719936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In January two Baloch nationalist organisations, the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the United Baloch Army (UBA) announced their dissolution and the formation of a new organisation the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).<br />
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In a news article on The Balochistan Post had reported that BRA spokesman Beebagr Baloch and UBA spokesman Mureed Baloch announced in a joint statement that the councils of the two organisations had met in Balochistan to discuss the political situation in the province and how to take forward their resistance against the Pakistani forces.</p>
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بی آر اے اور یوبی اے کا انضمام، “بلوچ نیشنلسٹ آرمی” کے قیام کا اعلان <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TBPNews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TBPNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/sn3OCzgHz8">https://t.co/sn3OCzgHz8</a></p>
— The Balochistan Post (@BalochistanPost) <a href="https://twitter.com/BalochistanPost/status/1480919901833469963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Mureed Baloch will be the official spokesperson of the merged group and the new outfit will continue to be a part of the Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS). The Central Command Council of the BNA will organise and plan the resistance to Pakistani forces.</p>
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The twitter handle of the daily Balochistan Post, close to the insurgent groups, stated earlier  that the wreckage of the helicopter has been found. All onboard, including very senior Pakistani military officials, have died.</p>
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The tweet also did not rule out that the helicopter could have been downed. “Yet to be ascertained what caused the crash as weather in the area is clear with winds of 11-15 mph and precipitation of less than 10%” says the tweet.</p>
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The helicopter was flying from Quetta in Balochistan to Karachi and crashed between Windar and Sassi Punnu shrine.</p>
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The “disappearance” of the helicopter has sent shock waves in Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tweeted: “The reports of missing helicopter of Army Aviation are very concerning. The whole nation bows in front of Allah for safety and return of personnel involved in flood relief operations.”</p>
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بلوچستان سے آرمی ایوی ایشن کے ہیلی کاپٹر کی گمشدگی تشویشناک ہے۔ پوری قوم اللہ تعالیٰ کے حضور سیلاب متاثرین کی مدد پر نکلنے والے وطن کے ان بیٹوں کی سلامتی، حفاظت اور بخیریت واپسی کے لئے دعا گو ہے۔ ان شاءاللہ</p>
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1554171203358703617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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While expressing “great concern” over the incident, President Arif Alvi prayed for the safety of the passengers, according to a tweet from the Presidency’s official account.</p>
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PML-N Vice President  Maryam Nawas also prayed for the safety of the on-board personnel.</p>
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OMG! May Allah keep them safe. Ameen. <a href="https://t.co/yz9M5Qi9ji">https://t.co/yz9M5Qi9ji</a></p>
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryamNSharif/status/1554161897355763716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also took to Twitter to express his concern.</p>
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Disturbing news of army aviation helicopter missing and praying for all those on board.</p>
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1554180213080219648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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