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Deadly military crash in Pakistan
Pakistan uses military helicopters widely in the rugged north-west region
Up to 26 Pakistani security personnel are feared dead after an army transport helicopter crashed in the tribal region of Orakzai, military officials say.
Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC the helicopter crashed on the border of the Khyber and Orakzai tribal region.
The cause of the crash is unclear, although officials said the most likely explanation was a technical failure.
The crash comes as a suspected US drone strike in South Waziristan killed at least 10 militants, officials said.
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Islamabad says it is understood the MI-17 helicopter had been flying back to Peshawar from the Afghan border region when the pilot put out a Mayday alert.
The helicopter then came down "in a hostile area" where it was fired upon by militants, according to officials.
Troops were sent in and exchanged fire with the insurgents.
Military officials said that an investigation into the crash would be carried out.
The north-west of Pakistan is currently the scene of heavy fighting between the Pakistani army and Taliban militants.
Fighter planes are reported to have been attacking suspected Taliban positions in South and North Waziristan.
Unnamed intelligence officials said the drone attack in South Waziristan had targeted a militant training facility.
The region - on the Afghan border - is controlled by Pakistan's most senior Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.
Pakistan uses military helicopters widely in the rugged north-west region
Up to 26 Pakistani security personnel are feared dead after an army transport helicopter crashed in the tribal region of Orakzai, military officials say.
Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC the helicopter crashed on the border of the Khyber and Orakzai tribal region.
The cause of the crash is unclear, although officials said the most likely explanation was a technical failure.
The crash comes as a suspected US drone strike in South Waziristan killed at least 10 militants, officials said.
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Islamabad says it is understood the MI-17 helicopter had been flying back to Peshawar from the Afghan border region when the pilot put out a Mayday alert.
The helicopter then came down "in a hostile area" where it was fired upon by militants, according to officials.
Troops were sent in and exchanged fire with the insurgents.
Military officials said that an investigation into the crash would be carried out.
The north-west of Pakistan is currently the scene of heavy fighting between the Pakistani army and Taliban militants.
Fighter planes are reported to have been attacking suspected Taliban positions in South and North Waziristan.
Unnamed intelligence officials said the drone attack in South Waziristan had targeted a militant training facility.
The region - on the Afghan border - is controlled by Pakistan's most senior Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.