Panjshir, Afghanistan: Taliban opposition forces have claimed that an Indian-made Cheetah helicopter operated by the Afghan Taliban was downed during a pre-planned operation in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley on October 7.
According to the claim, the incident took place at around 7:15 a.m. in the Arzoo area of Panjshir. The Green Unit, an anti-Taliban group, reportedly claimed responsibility for the operation.
The claim states that two pilots, Abdul Azim and Mohammad Naeem, were seriously injured along with Taliban Air Force Chief of Staff Mullah Qiblaullah Momin.
The three injured individuals were reportedly evacuated to Kabul aboard a Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter. Their condition was described in the report as critical.
The helicopter’s wreckage was reportedly left in the Arzoo area of Panjshir. Efforts were said to be underway to obtain photographs and video footage from the alleged crash site.
However, the claims regarding the helicopter being downed, the identities of those injured and their reported condition have not been independently verified.
