Taliban claim US drones entered Afghanistan through Pakistan

Says they demand that 'Pakistan does not allow its air space'


Shahabullah Yousafzai August 28, 2022
Afghan Taliban's Acting Minister of Defense Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob speaks during the death anniversary of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the late leader and founder of the Taliban, in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 24, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN:

The Taliban's interim Defence Minister Mullah Yaqub on Sunday has claimed that the United States drones were entering the war-torn country through Pakistan.

While narrating the one-year performance of the ministry alongside the Army Chief Mullah Fasih Uddin and the spokesperson of the ministry at a press conference in Kabul, Yaqub said: “We hadn't caught all routes of the drones but our intelligence reported that the United States drones were entering through Pakistan."

"We demand that Pakistan does not allow its air space,” to be used by the US he said, adding that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's (IEA) radar system was destroyed when the Americans evacuated the country last year in August.

Read: Pakistan played 'absolutely no role' in Zawahiri's killing

The defence minister also stated that the number of IEA’s national army reached 150,000 soldiers with eight border groups and each consisting of 3,000 personnel.

Yaqub further demanded all neighbouring countries return their helicopters and aeroplanes and also added that no one would be allowed to station their defence items on their soil.

While answering questions he said that the investigation of the killing of Al-Qaeda Chief Ayman-al-Zawahiri, who was killed in a CIA drone strike in Kabul on July 31, is still underway and is yet to be concluded.

“The United States is grossly violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty and the Doha agreement,” he added.

Previously, the Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told the media that the war-ravaged country had registered its protest with the US government against using their drones in Afghanistan’s airspace.

Read More: Taliban willing to send Afghan troops to India for training: Mullah Yaqoob

The Al-Qaeda chief’s killing in a US drone strike indicates that the US has over the horizon capability to take out high-value targets and importantly without having any US footprints on the ground in Afghanistan.

His killing has raised questions about how the CIA executed the operation. The CIA after the withdrawal of US-led foreign forces has no basis inside Afghanistan as well as in Pakistan, where the US operated after the 9/11 attacks.

There were speculations that Pakistan might have played a role in taking out the al-Qaeda chief. However, a government source strongly rejected some rumours that the drone might have flown from Pakistan and that the US used the country’s airspace.

COMMENTS (10)

gs | 2 years ago | Reply The Hon. Taliban s interim Defence Minister Mullah Yaqub needs to be informed that the powerful USA does not need permission from anyone to apply its Law of the Jungle. Did the USA apply the Laws of the Jungle to invade Afghanistan 30 years ago by seeking permssion from anyone We all know that the Laws observed by the Godless and Lawless European terrorists since the past 550 years has been Might is Right . It is true hat every soul shall one day reap what they sow. So shall the European terrorists see Justice one day. You ave been told so exercise patience. No soul shall escape the Final Justice. The European terrorists have not such knowledge as you have Sir.
Amjad | 2 years ago | Reply Beware of the ides of March.Pakistan again either on the back or in front of taliban. This unending chessboard again and again haunts the region.God knows when it will end. The saner bold and intelligent elements will have to come forward to set both countries on right path.
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