Afghanistan: Taliban says Pakistan allowed US drones into its airspace

The Taliban recently accused Pakistan of allowing the United States to use its airspace to access Afghanistan. The accusation follows the US drone strike that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri back in July.

Afghanistan’s acting defense minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob told reporters at a news conference Sunday that US drones were able to get into Afghanistan through Pakistan. The accusation follows the news of the US drone strike on the al Qaeda leader that took place in July.

“According to our information the drones are entering through Pakistan to Afghanistan, they use Pakistan’s airspace, we ask Pakistan, don’t use your airspace against us,” said Yaqoob.

Pakistani authorities denied the accusation by the Taliban of having any advanced knowledge or involvement in the drone strike Washington said it carried out to kill the al Qaeda leader, who was found in Kabul. The Taliban said that it was investigating the strike and that they had not found Zawahiri’s body.

Yaqoob’s comments may increase tensions between the two countries, especially as this comes at a time when the Afghan Taliban is mediating talks between the Pakistani Taliban and the Pakistani government. Afghanistan also relies on Pakistan for trade in the midst of an economic and humanitarian crisis.

Afghanistan has also experienced several natural disasters this year as the country was plagued with drought, a deadly earthquake, and a flood that, according to the Taliban, killed more than 180 people.

The central and eastern provinces in Afghanistan were plagued with flooding, devastating homes, and further worsening the crises that the country is already facing.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan can’t manage the floods alone, we ask the world, international organizations, and Islamic countries to help us,” said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid during a news conference Thursday last week.

Mujahid said 182 people were killed in the floods, with 250 others injured. Over 3,100 homes were destroyed, and thousands of livestock were also killed by the calamity.

In the province of Logar in central Afghanistan, the Khoshi district was affected by widespread devastation, according to aid workers. The United Nations children’s agency said around 20,000 people were affected by the flooding, and 20 people were killed, among them six children, and two more were reported missing.