Pakistan providing airspace to US drones for entering Afghanistan: Taliban

Taliban defence minister Mohammed Yakoob Mujahid has accused Pakistan of providing airspace for US drones to enter Afghanistan. He characterised incursions by the drones as continuation of USA's 'invasion'. His comments came less than month after US President Joe Biden announced that al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri had been killed in Kabul in a drone strike. Mujahid said that US drones are seen flying over Kabul even now.

"Our information shows that they (US drones) are entering into Afghanistan from Pakistan, using the airspace of Pakistan," Mujahid told reporters when asked where the drones were coming from.

"We demand that Pakistan should not allow its airspace to be used against us."

There was no immediate reaction from Pakistan on Taliban's claims. Pakistan military has previously denied allowing use of the country's airspace.

"Deploying these drones inAfghanistan is still a clear invasion of Afghanistan and its airspace by the Americans,"Mujahid said.

"They are doing this shamelessly. We condemn this illegal act and demand that the Americans put an end to it."

After two decades of military campaign, US and other forces left Afghanistan last year. This paved way for the Taliban to recapture power in the country.

The drone attack in July that killed Osama bin Laden's successor Zawahiriwas the first known strike by the US on a target in Afghanistan since Washington withdrew its forces from the country on August 31 last year.

Mujahid said the authorities were investigating Biden's claims of killing Zawahiri.

"We will share the details when it is complete," he said.

Taliban have still neither confirmed Zawahiri's presence in Afghanistan nor acknowledged his death.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE