The Taliban has called for an end to ongoing U.S. drone patrols in Afghanistan, labeling them a breach of the nation’s airspace sovereignty.
The Taliban’s deputy spokesperson appealed to the United States to cease these aerial operations.
“We urge the American side to respect Afghanistan’s airspace and call on countries whose airspace is utilized for these flights to prohibit such actions,” he said.
The U.S. Department of State has not issued a comment on the situation.
Recent reports indicate drone surveillance activities in the provinces of Laghman, Kandahar, and Panjshir.
Experts suggest the U.S. might be using these flights to surveil and counteract security threats posed by Daesh and al-Qaeda in the region.
Military analyst Mohammad Radmanesh noted, “Given the security developments influenced by Daesh and other terrorist factions, American drone patrols serve as a means to manage and mitigate potential security challenges.”
Details regarding the specific targets of these drone missions under Taliban rule remain undisclosed, aside from general indications of U.S. military presence.
Some analysts argue that these drone operations are in line with the Doha agreement reached between the Taliban and the U.S. in February 2020.
Following the Taliban’s ascendancy, concerns about the resurgence of terrorist groups like al-Qaeda have significantly increased.
Despite the Biden administration’s emphasis on “over-the-horizon” counter-terrorism efforts, the U.S. military withdrawal has been sharply criticized by some American politicians as a grave risk to both U.S. and global security.
