Shamim Shahid
PESHAWAR The rifts amongst the ranks of Taliban, governing Afghanistan confirmed when defense minister accused Pakistan for extending help to United States in Drones strikes in that war affected country.
During a press conference, Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob Akhund, defense minister in the Emirate Islami Afghanistan has directly accused Pakistan of allowing its airspace for US drone operations against Afghanistan and demanded that the neighboring country to stop doing so. “We do not have accurate information in this regard because our radar system was destroyed by American forces during their withdrawal, but our information shows they are entering from Pakistan airspace to Afghanistan and using Pakistan airspace,” Yaqoob remarked, adding ,” we are asking Pakistan to not let to its airspace use against us”.
The Taliban defense Mullah Yaquib Mujahid who is son of Tehrik Taliban Afghanistan founder Mullah Muhammad Omar Akhund founder while talking to journalists during a conference regarding Taliban one year performances at Kabul has highlighted achievements of his ministry. In response to a question he also reconfirmed that US drones overflying in Afghanistan airspace, which according to him is causing wide range unrest amongst common people of Afghanistan.
Couple of days back, Afghanistan Deputy Information Minister and Talibsn spokesman Zabih Ullah Mujahid has informed about US drones roaming in Helmand and Qandahar. He, however in response to a question didn’t endorsed the US President Joe Biden and other High ranking authorities claims of “successfully targeting Al Qaeda chief Dr Aiman Al Zawahiri through drones in a well poshed and sensitive residential locality at Kabul in previous July.” Zabih Ullah Mujahid said that investigations into US high ups claims pertained to targeting Dr Aiman Al Zawahiri is still in progress.
Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob in his Sunday presser at Kabul said nothing about the alleged US drone attack, targeting Al Qaeda chief. Besides Defense Minister several other Afghan leaders including deposed First Vice President Amar Ullah Saleh also alleges involvement of Pakistan in alleged US drones attacks in Afghanistan. But other high ranking Taliban officials including acting Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Salam and Interior Minister Siraj Ud Din Haqqani are silent on this issue. Neither they are endorsing nor did contradicting allegations pertain to Pakistan involvement in alleged drone attacks.
Pakistan has not commented yet on the Taliban defense minister remarks.
During the daylong conference called as Accountability of Ministers, Mullah Yaqoob and others listed out their one year performances which included enrolling of armed personnel to 150 thousands and reoperationaling 60 damaged helicopters by its repairing within the country.
