Islamabad: A Pakistan Army MI-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on Wednesday, killing 21 military personnel on board. Pakistan's military said the helicopter went down shortly after take-off due to a reported technical fault.

The crash occurred amid widespread protests and a strike called by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a recently banned alliance of various groups, though authorities have not suggested any link between the unrest and the accident.

Witnesses said the helicopter lost control shortly after leaving a helipad near Muzaffarabad before crashing. Emergency responders and military rescue teams rushed to the site, while victims were transported to a nearby hospital. The military said a board of inquiry had been ordered to determine the exact cause of the crash and to examine all technical and operational aspects of the flight.

The MI-17 is a Russian-designed medium-lift transport helicopter widely used by Pakistan's armed forces for troop deployment, logistics support and emergency missions. Capable of carrying large numbers of personnel and equipment, it is among the most commonly operated military helicopters in the region.

The accident comes at a time of growing tensions in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where protests have intensified following the ban on JAAC. Demonstrators have been demanding lower electricity tariffs, subsidised essential goods and political reforms, while authorities have responded with security measures and restrictions. Despite speculation on social media linking the crash to the ongoing unrest, Pakistani military officials have maintained that the helicopter crashed because of a technical fault and have not indicated any connection to the protests.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief Asim Munir expressed condolences to the families of those killed. Investigators are expected to review maintenance records, flight data and witness accounts before releasing their findings on one of the deadliest military helicopter accidents in the region in recent years.