Tajikistan has asked the government of Afghanistan for assistance in recovering a helicopter that former Drug Control Agency head Ghaffor Mirzoev is accused of having rented out illegally in Afghanistan. Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Dovud Panjsheri confirmed the receipt of a request from Tajikistan\'s Foreign Ministry for help in returning the Russian-made MI-8 helicopter. The Foreign Ministry request notes that in 2003 Tajikistan\'s Olympic Committee, which Mirzoev headed at the time, leased the helicopter to an American company in Afghanistan. The helicopter, along with its six-member crew, was supposed to have been returned on 7 March 2004. Ambassador Panjsheri told Asia Plus, \"Afghanistan is not involved in this and has no connection with this matter, since the contract was between an American company active in Afghanistan and Tajikistan\'s Olympic Committee.\" He said, however, that the request has been passed on to Afghanistan\'s Foreign Ministry. (Asia Plus-Blitz)