Islamabad on August 29 : The Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) has ruled out the Afghan Taliban’s claims regarding “the US using Pakistani airspace” to carry out the strike which killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul last month.In a statement issued over the weekend The Taliban government’s Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob had criticized Pakistan for allowing US drones to fly into Afghanistan, Samaa TV reported.
“According to our information , the drones are currently entering Pakistan to Afghanistan and are using Pakistan’s airspace.We ask Pakistan not to use your airspace to harm us,” Yaqoob, who is the son of the former Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar, had stated.
Responding, FO spokesperson Asim Iftikhar stated that Yaqoob’s allegations was taken note of with great worry.
“In the absence of any evidence, as affirmed by the Afghan minister, such assertions based on speculation are extremely regrettable and violate the standards of good diplomatic conduct” spokespersons were quoted saying in the statement.
“Pakistan affirms its faith in the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all nations and rejects the act of terrorism in all ways and manifestations.”
Al-Zawahiri who was carrying a bounty of $25 million on his head He was killed in an CIA drone strike on July 31, as he was sitting in the balcony of the house in the posh Kabul neighborhood.
The presence and the killing of the leader of the terror group in Kabul was a source of embarrassment to the Afghan Taliban who have repeatedly pledged to not let Afghan territory to be used again by terrorist groups.
The Taliban specifically made a pledge in the Doha agreement to end relations with Al Qaeda.Al Qaeda.
After the murder of Zawahiri There were questions asked about which base the US used for the drone attack.
Pakistan was named as one suspect however Islamabad has denied any involvement.
The FO had previously clarified that there was no drone from Pakistan or its airspace was employed.
But the latest claims from the most powerful Taliban leader could sever the relations between the two nations at a moment when Pakistan is unhappy with the ongoing problem created by the Tehreek-e-Taliban, which was banned in Pakistan as well as its affiliated groups, according to The Express Tribune.
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