Pakistan on Saturday (23 October) denied any understanding with the United States (US) in relation to using Pakistan’s airspace for intelligence and military operation in Afghanistan.
According to a CNN report published Friday, the Biden administration told Lawmakers that it was close to formalizing an agreement with Pakistan for the use of its airspace to conduct military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan.
On the contrary, the Foreign Office spokesperson in response to the CNN report said, “No such understanding is in place. Pakistan and the US have longstanding cooperation on regional security and counter-terrorism and the two sides remain engaged in regular consultations.”
According to CNN, Pakistan has “indicated a desire” to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in exchange for assistance with its own counterterrorism operations and relationship management with India. Additionally, as per the report negotiations are still ongoing and the contents of the deal, which have yet to be ironed out, are still subject to change.
In an interview with Axios on HBO, Prime Minister Imran Khan in June stated emphatically that Pakistan would “absolutely not” allow the US to utilize its facilities and territory for any type of operation inside Afghanistan.
Imran Khan said “Pakistan suffered 70,000 casualties, more than any other country by joining the American war. We cannot afford any more military actions from our territory. We will be partners in peace, not in conflict.”
In May, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi ruled out supplying military bases to the United States for counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan. He had dismissed the accusations as untrue and stated categorically that the government would never provide military bases to the United States or allow drone operations within Pakistan.
The opposition has previously asked that the government explain assertions made by a senior Pentagon official that Pakistan had permitted the US military to utilize the country’s airspace to assist its operations in Afghanistan to the House of Representatives.
The Taliban’s newly created administration has also urged all countries, including the US, to “operate in accordance with international agreements and not trespass on Afghanistan’s airspace.” In addition, they said under international law, all governments are the only proprietors of their states’ territory and air sovereignty which is why “the Islamic Emirate, as the sole legal entity of Afghanistan, is the guardian of Afghanistan’s land and airspace”.
Under the pretense of mutual respect and desire to “avoid any unwanted consequences,” Afghanistan’s interim administration has encouraged other countries to obey international laws.
