Moscow checking reports about Russian pilot's capture in Afghanistan

Russian diplomats are checking media reports about the capture of a Russian citizen by Taliban militants in Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

According to the reports, a Pakistani MI-17 helicopter, which was heading to Russia for repairs, made an emergency landing on Thursday in the Afghan province of Logar, a ministry statement said.

The crew members, including its navigator S.K. Sevastyanov, a Russian national, were captured by the Taliban militants, the statement said.

The Russian embassies in Islamabad and Kabul are in close contact with the authorities of Afghanistan and Pakistan to organize the release of the Russian, the ministry said.

The MI-17 crash-landed in Logar province on Thursday when it likely met some technical faults.

The Pakistani Foreign Office said Thursday that it was looking into the matter and would provide details shortly.

Previous media reports said the plane was heading for Uzbekistan for overhauling. Endi