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Copter brought down by Taliban fighters was not part of UN mission — UN deputy spokesman

Moldova’s Publika television reported earlier that Taliban fighters had seized three crewmembers and 18 passengers of a Moldovan helicopter in Faryab province

© EPA/GHULAMULLAH HABIBI

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Putin: No country is capable of effectively fighting against terrorism on its own

UNITED NATIONS, November 25. /TASS/. The Moldovan helicopter whose passengers and the crew were seized by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan’s Faryab province did not belong to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), UN deputy spokesman Farhan Hak told Tass on Tuesday.

Moldova’s Publika television reported earlier, referring to Acting Interior Minister of Moldova, Oleg Balan that Taliban fighters had seized three crewmembers and 18 passengers of a Moldovan helicopter in Faryab province.

The TV report said the Mi-8 helicopter belonged to Moldovan transport company Valan International Cargo Charter, that allegedly participated in a peacekeeping operation under the UN aegis in Afghanistan. The helicopter was seized on Faryab province’s territory controlled by terrorists.

UNAMA is not a peacekeeping mission, but is authorized to support the Afghan authorities in the process of national reconciliation, monitor the human rights situation in the country as well as coordinate humanitarian aid effort.

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