Military comment on apparent missile attack on helicopter

Описание: (2 Nov 2005)

Northern Pakistan - Recent File
1. Helicopter coming into land
2. Supplies being unloaded from the helicopter
3. Aerials above quake-devastated area

Islamabad - 2 November, 2005
4. Military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan walking out of building
5. SOUNDBITE (English): Major General Shaukat Sultan, Pakistani Military Spokesman:
"This incident took place around 1.45pm near Chakothi when two American Chinooks - they were flying from Muzaffarabad towards Chakothi - while one had gone past, the second helicopter turned back and when it was flying over a place called Hatia the pilot reported that probably he suspects RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) fire on him from the ground. The troops on the ground immediately cordoned off the area and carried out a search and the evidence that they found was that at that times there were army engineers working on the road, they were clearing the slides, and there was a dynamite explosion that picked up the dust and probably that must have been misunderstood by the pilot as RPG fire."
6. Cutaway of General Shaukat Sultan
7. SOUNDBITE (English): Major General Shaukat Sultan, Pakistani Military Spokesman:
"Well the Pakistanis are really happy because these Chinook helicopters, they are heavy-lift helicopters - they have been able to carry a lot of cargo which probably wasn't possible for other Mi17 to carry. They have also airlifted the like-dozers (bulldozers), tractors into the area where our engineers are clearing the roads. So these helicopters have been of real help and the Pakistani public, particularly those in the affected areas - they are really grateful to all those who have come for our help and the Americans have come for our help in big numbers."

Northern Pakistan - Recent File
8. Chinook helicopter flying
9. Aerials above quake-devastated area
10. Chinook helicopter flying
11. Supplies being unloaded from the helicopter

STORYLINE:

US military helicopters resumed relief flights in northern Pakistan on Wednesday, a day after one came under apparent attack as it ferried supplies to victims of the massive earthquake in divided Kashmir, officials said.

In an account disputed by Pakistan's army, the US military reported that assailants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a US CH-47 Chinook helicopter at around 1:45 p.m. (1045 GMT) on Tuesday as it flew over Chakothi, near the Line of Control that separates the Pakistani and Indian portions of Kashmir.

Pakistani army spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told APTN that he doubted any such attack took place, noting that road-clearing engineers were blasting a road near where the helicopters were flying.

Some 24 US military helicopters, mostly heavy-lifting Chinooks diverted from fighting 'Operation Enduring Freedom' in neighbouring Afghanistan, are helping Pakistan recover from the October 8 quake.

The quake is believed to have killed about 80-thousand people and left millions homeless and desperately in need of supplies before the harsh Himalayan winter closes in.

Kashmir - one of two Pakistani regions hit hardest by the earthquake - is a focus for Islamic militants seeking to gain independence from India, or a merger with Pakistan.

While Pakistan denies that militants use its territory as a base, their presence is barely hidden.

Militants have been openly helping with quake relief effort on both sides of Kashmir.

A spokesman for one prominent militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed - which is alleged to have links to al-Qaida - said it would not contemplate attacking any foreigners, including Americans, who are helping survivors of quake.

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