The tourists included six Britons, three Americans, two Scots and a German, according to Afghan officials.
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The group was taken to local clinics where they were treated for generally light injuries, Farhad said.
“The Afghan government has instructed the defence and security agencies to investigate whether or not it was the same helicopter for which permission had been sought”, defence ministry spokesperson Daulat Waziri said.
Afterwards, a spokesman for the Taliban branded the tourists “foreign invaders” and said they had been attacked after treating Afghans as “slaves”. It was reported to be operated by the Pakistani army, but an army spokesman denied that report.
“The convoy was ambushed by the Taliban in Chesht-e-Sharif district”.
“They were detained by the Taliban”, Khan said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said federal government is in constant touch with the relevant authorities in Afghanistan and the state’s resources are fully utilised to rescue the personnel who were onboard in the helicopter.
Many countries, including the US and United Kingdom, have longstanding travel advisories warning against all but essential travel to Afghanistan due to the security situation throughout the country.
The Army chief had yesterday also called Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan General Nicolson and asked him to help in the recovery of the helicopter crew.
Twelve travelers were attacked by the militant gunmen as their convoy made its way through Herat province in the west of the country, Afghan government officials said.
On Friday, a senior Afghan Taliban commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the passengers – six Pakistanis and a Russian technician – were in their custody and that negotiations for their release were ongoing.
“An Mi-17 transport helicopter belonging to the Punjab government was scheduled to fly to Russian Federation for fix. We conveyed to them that they are in safe hands”.
That attack followed a massive suicide bombing that struck a peaceful rally by Afghanistan’s minority ethnic Hazara community on July 23 that killed more than 80 people and wounded hundreds.
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A spokesman for the Foreign Office (FCO) in London was unable to immediately confirm the reports of the attack.
