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'Foreigners held' by Afghan Taliban insurgents in Logar 'Foreigners held' by Afghan Taliban insurgents in Logar
(about 2 hours later)
A group of up to nine foreign nationals have been abducted by insurgents in eastern Afghanistan, reports say.A group of up to nine foreign nationals have been abducted by insurgents in eastern Afghanistan, reports say.
The group were taken after the civilian helicopter in which they were travelling made a forced landing in Azra district in Logar province. Seven Turks, two Russians and one Afghan were in a civilian helicopter which made a forced landing in Azra district in Logar province, the aircraft's operator told the BBC.
The district is known to be a Taliban-controlled area and the Taliban have told the BBC they have the group. The Taliban told the BBC they had the group. The district is known to have a strong Taliban presence.
The aircraft seems to have been forced to make a hard landing in bad weather, and was soon surrounded by insurgents. International forces are assisting in the search for the passengers.
The United Nations said the helicopter was not one of theirs. The company responsible for the missing helicopter, Khorasan, said the aircraft was forced down in bad weather on Sunday evening while flying to Kabul from Khost to the south-east of the capital.
It was said to be white, like many that fly supply missions across Afghanistan. It said there were 10 people on board: one was an Afghan, two were Russian pilots, and the other seven were Turkish construction workers.
BBC correspondent David Loyn says that on any day there are an average of 100 civilian helicopter flights across Afghanistan, and that they are a vital link for remote bases, carrying workers and supplies. Azra, the restive district where the helicopter made the forced landing, is close to the Pakistani border and local officials say that while there are some Afghan government forces there, the Taliban and other insurgents have a strong presence.
Logar deputy police chief Rais Khan Sadeq told AFP news agency eight of the people taken were Turkish nationals and the other Afghan, adding that the helicopter had been found without its occupants. It appears as if the helicopter was surrounded by insurgents after landing.
But a Turkish foreign ministry official was unable to confirm to the BBC that the helicopter or any of its occupants were Turkish. The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul reports that on any day there are an average of 100 civilian helicopter flights across Afghanistan.
A spokesman for the international coalition forces Isaf said they were helping to search for the hostages. They are a vital link for remote bases, carrying workers and supplies and are mostly contracted from Russian companies, our correspondent adds.
Turkey has around 1,800 soldiers serving with Nato forces in Afghanistan, but their mission is confined to patrols and Turkey has long had a close relationship with Kabul.
Numerous Western, Pakistani and Afghan hostages are being held in Afghanistan including US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 25, who has been a prisoner for nearly four years.Numerous Western, Pakistani and Afghan hostages are being held in Afghanistan including US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 25, who has been a prisoner for nearly four years.