US drones enter Afghanistan through Pakistan, alleges Yaqub

KABUL (Pajhwok): Acting Defense Minister Mualvi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid on Sunday alleged US drones entered Afghanistan through Pakistan, asking Islamabad not to allow the use of its airspace against Kabul.

In July, a US drone strike killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul. Pakistan has denied playing any role in the killing of Zawahiri.

Yaqub Mujahid, addressing reporters about the activities and achievements of his ministry in the past one year, said their information showed US drones entered Afghanistan from Pakistan’s territory, imploring Islamabad not to use its airspace against the movement.

Pakistan termed Yaqub’s accusations “conjectural allegations”. In a statement, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that the statement was “highly regrettable” and defied the “norms of responsible diplomatic conduct”.

He said the number of armed forces had reached 150,000 and currently the process of clearing the military ranks of unwanted elements and hiring new personnel was underway.

Yaqub said the Ministry of Defense had always taken serious, decisive and fair measures against the actual and potential threats to the territorial integrity of Afghanistan and its forces were committed to the principles of non-interference, good neighborliness and mutual respect.

“We have eight border brigades and each has around 3,000 armed forces, and we defend our land under all conditions.”

The minister said due to the efforts of his ministry officials more than 40 pilots, engineers and professional Air Force personnel returned to their duties

To a question, he said the defense ministry was trying to bring back helicopters and airplanes sent to neighboring countries following the regime change because these planes were the right of Afghans and efforts to bring them back were ongoing.

He said security forces rescued thousands of people marooned in recent floods in different parts of the country.

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