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The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a leading jihadi group whose leadership is believed to be working from Afghanistan, has issued a statement claiming responsibility for shooting down a Pakistani army helicopter in Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan region on May 8, in which the Norwegian and Philippines ambassadors were killed along with several other people.
In an Urdu-language statement, the TTP said that the target was another helicopter in which Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was believed to be travelling in the Gilgit Baltistan region, which is situated along the border with China. It should be noted that recently the TTP released a video showing how it prepared and successfully tested a ballistic missile.
Following is the text of the statement issued by TTP spokesman Muhammad Khurasani, as translated from Urdu:
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The statement was posted on Wordpress.com
"Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan accepts the responsibility for shooting down the army's MI-17 helicopter in Gilgit Baltistan.
"The special squads of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan STF (Special Task Force) and TIA had prepared a special plan to target… [the helicopter] on the occasion of the visit of Nawaz Sharif today, but Nawaz Sharif escaped because he was in another helicopter. The Pakistani MI-17 helicopter was shot down by an anti-aircraft [missile], thereby killing the pilots and foreign diplomats who were part of Nawaz Sharif's tour. All praises be to Allah.
"In this war between Shariah versus Kufr [unbelief] and democracy, we will not sit quietly until we destroy the names and symbols of democracy and its protectors, Allah willing. And especially, Nawaz Sharif and his mates are our top targets. Very soon we will present before the entire world the [video of the] shoulder-launched missile (Saam-7) and its training [preparation].
"After repeatedly warning members of the media, they have adopted treacherous behavior. The media members should remain unbiased; otherwise there will be no one to listen to their voice. For some time, we have been watching some media institutions and media people.
"Muhammad Khurasani"
Source: Umarmedia.wordpress.com, May 8, 2015
