US may use Pakistan airspace for military operations in Afghanistan

Ground Report | New Delhi: US may use Pakistan airspace; Thee US broadcaster CNN claimed in a report that the United States and Pakistan were close to a formal agreement on the use of airspace for military operations in Afghanistan. The Biden administration informed the US Congressmen about the agreement reached with Pakistan yesterday.

US may use Pakistan airspace

Citing three sources, the report said that Pakistan had sought an MoU from the United States to provide counter-terrorism assistance in exchange for the use of airspace and had also sought assistance in relations with India. 

CNN sources claimed that Pakistan's talks with the United States are ongoing and the agreement has not been finalized yet, it may change.

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The report said that the US military is currently using Pakistani airspace to gather intelligence to reach Afghanistan, but no one has been able to ensure continued access to the airspace needed by the US to reach Afghanistan. There is no formal agreement between the two countries.

air travel to Afghanistan via Pakistan

According to the report: "The issue of air travel to Afghanistan via Pakistan could become more critical if the United States resumes flights to Kabul to evacuate US citizens and others in the country from Afghanistan."

Another CNN source said an agreement was discussed when US officials visited Pakistan, but it was not yet clear what Pakistan wanted or how much the United States wanted to pay in return.

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"As there is currently no formal agreement, the United States is taking the risk of Pakistan refusing to allow US military aircraft and drones to enter Afghanistan," it said.

Pakistan denied reports

However, Pakistan has denied reports that it has negotiated an agreement to allow the United States to use its airspace for military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan.

A Foreign Office spokesman issued a statement on Saturday denying reports in the international media that no such agreement was being negotiated between Pakistan and the United States.

The statement said that Pakistan and the United States have a long history of cooperation on regional security and counter-terrorism and regular consultations are underway between the two countries.

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