Afghanistan's defence minister demands Pakistan not allow its airspace to be used by the US military, while Islamabad denies the accusation and cites a lack of evidence.
Afghan Minister of Defence Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob told a press conference in Kabul that deploying drones into Afghanistan is still a clear invasion of the country by the US.
(AFP)
The Taliban's acting defence minister has said that Pakistan had allowed US drones to use its airspace to access Afghanistan, which Pakistan's foreign minister denied.
Afghan Acting Minister of Defence Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob told a news conference on Sunday in Kabul that American drones had been entering Afghanistan via Pakistan.
"According to our information the drones are entering through Pakistan to Afghanistan, they use Pakistan's airspace, we ask Pakistan, don't use your airspace against us," he said.
Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said he had made checks after the air strike and had been told that Pakistani airspace was not used. He said he would check again after Sunday's allegations but expected the position to be the same.
"I really don't believe that this is a time that I wish to get into a debate with anyone or to have accusations... frankly, I'm focused on the flood relief efforts," Bhutto-Zardari said in an interview, referring to deadly floods in Pakistan that have left millions of people homeless.
"The Afghan regime has promised not only to its own people, but to the international community, that they will not allow their soil to be used for terrorists," he said.
A spokesperson for the US Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment.
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'Absence of any evidence'
Pakistan's foreign ministry released a statement saying it noted Yaqoob's comments with "deep concern".
"In the absence of any evidence, as acknowledged by the Afghan Minister himself, such conjectural allegations are highly regrettable and defy the norms of responsible diplomatic conduct," the statement said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the Taliban "grossly violated" a 2020 agreement on the withdrawal of US-led forces from Afghanistan by hosting and sheltering Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri
Pakistani authorities have previously denied involvement in or advanced knowledge of a drone strike the United States said it carried out in Kabul in July that killed Zawahiri.
The Taliban said it is investigating the July air strike and that it has not found the al Qaeda leader's body.
Yaqoob's comments came at a time when the Afghan Taliban is mediating talks between Pakistan and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Pakistani Taliban.
Afghanistan, which is undergoing an acute economic crisis, also relies heavily on trade with Pakistan.
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Source: AFP
According to a new report by the US State Department, Washington does not support Greek allegations that Turkish aircraft violate the country’s airspace.
The US encourages Greece and Türkiye “to resolve outstanding bilateral maritime boundary issues peacefully and in accordance with international law”, according to Greek media report.
(AA)
The US has recently reiterated that it disagrees with Athens on the extent of Greek airspace, a Greek daily reported.
Citing a report prepared by the US State Department and submitted to Congress, the Greek daily Kathimerini highlighted on Wednesday that the US does not support Greek allegations that Turkish aircraft violate the country’s airspace.
The report said Greece claims an airspace that extends up to 10 nautical miles and a territorial sea of up to six nautical miles.
"Under international law, a country’s airspace coincides with its territorial sea. The US thus recognises an airspace up to 6 nautical miles consistent with territorial sea. Greece and the US do not share a view on the extent of Greece’s airspace," it said.
The report also noted that "Greece and its neighbours have not agreed on boundary delimitation in those areas where their lawful maritime entitlements overlap."
According to the report, the lack of such delimitation means there is no clarity on the extent of Greece’s territorial sea and corresponding airspace in these areas
As such, it noted, Greek claims that Turkish aircraft violate its airspace are not feasible.
The report added that the US encourages Greece and Türkiye "to resolve outstanding bilateral maritime boundary issues peacefully and in accordance with international law."
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New harassment
Meanwhile, Turkish planes taking part in a NATO mission over the Aegean Sea were harassed by Greek F-16 jets, Turkish National Defense Ministry sources said on Thursday.
The sources, requesting anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said the two Turkish F-16s were harassed on Wednesday.
As soon as the Greek jets locked their radar on the Turkish warplanes, the Turkish side responded with full force.
This is the second time this week that Greek jets locked their radar on Turkish planes on NATO missions.
On Tuesday, a similar incident took place over the Eastern Mediterranean.
READ MORE: Greece radar locks Turkish F-16 jets during NATO missionREAD MORE:Türkiye 'reciprocates' to Greek airspace breach
Source: AA
