They were “released in an inter-tribe exchange on the Pakistani-Afghan border”, the ministry said.
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Pakistan had sought permission to fly a helicopter – being sent to Russian Federation for overhauling – over Afghan air space.
An Interior Ministry official said the crew was handed over to Pakistan in Kurram, which is one of the seven tribal districts. The Foreign Office issued a press statement mentioning that “the crew members have been identified as Captain Safdar Hussain (chief pilot), Captain Safdar Ashraf, Captain Muhammad Shafiq-ur-Rehman (first officer), Nasir Mahmood (flt engineer), Muhammad Kausar (crew chief) and Sergei Sevastianov (Russian navigator)”.
The MI-17 helicopter was on its way to Russian Federation on August 4 when it crash-landed in a Taliban-controlled area of Logar province, where the crew was captured by rebels, according to Afghan officials. “We are now on our way to Islamabad”, Khozin said.
The Mi-17 transport helicopter made crash-landing in the mountainous Azra district of Logar province apparently due to technical problems. “All crew members are safe and in good health”. Pakistan has formal permission from the Afghan Government to use the airspace.
In Afghanistan, Taliban and Islamic State fighters have battled over territory in Nangarhar, though both have recently been more busy defending against US and Afghan assaults.
The helicopter, similar to this one, was en route to Russian Federation for maintenance.
File photo shows Taliban militants in an undisclosed location in Afghanistan.
Pakistani leaders had been in touch with the Afghan government leaders and top commander of the foreign forces for the safe release of the hostages.
“President Ashraf Ghani assured all possible assistance in this regard”, he posted on Twitter.
The Afghan Taliban have not commented on the conditions of the release.
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The Afghan government accuses Pakistan of maintaining close ties with the Taliban and some analysts say the release of the hostages could be a result of the Pakistani security agencies’ influence on the Islamist insurgents.
