PM Imran Khan has categorically turned down the possibility of giving military bases to United States, CIA for carrying out operations in neighboring Afghanistan.
Speaking to HBO Axio’s Jonathan Swan, PM Imran Khan denied any possibility of Pakistan giving military bases to US/CIA for carrying out kinetic operations inside neighboring Afghanistan.
Responding to a question regarding Pakistan government allowing US to carryout cross-border counter-terrorism operations against Taliban, Al-Qaeda and ISI via CIA personnel and infrastructure, the premier categorically said that Pakistan will not allow US to use its territory against Afghanistan.
“Absolutely not. There’s no way we’re going to allow any bases, any sort of action from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. Absolutely not,” said PM Imran Khan.
Prior to this MoFA had also rebuked rumors suggesting that that there is a US military base in Pakistan.
There is no U.S. military or air base in Pakistan, nor was any such proposal envisaged. Any speculation on this account was baseless and irresponsible and should be avoided, read the statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The development comes as US is reportedly seeking to pursue Pakistan to provide a military base to CIA and US military personnel enabling them to carryout kinetic and semi-kinetic operations in the form of targeted airstrikes, drone strikes in neighboring Afghanistan against ‘hostile elements’ following the withdrawal of US troops and other foreign military personnel from the war-torn Afghanistan.
It is pertinent to know that US-Taliban peace deal was signed on February 29th 2020 last year aimed at bringing end to the 18-year long conflict and ensure a lasting ceasefire and political stability in the war-torn country.
Under the peace deal, US and its NATO allies agreed to withdraw all troops within 14 months if the militants uphold the deal and with the beginning of the withdrawal of US troops, political stability in the country is ensured.
In April earlier this year, US President Joe Biden confirmed that US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan will culminate by September 11th 2021.
As foreign forces continue withdrawing from Afghanistan, the Taliban have seemingly capitalized on the situation and have made significant advances, capturing key territories due to weak Afghan government, ill-equipped and demoralized and Afghan security forces.
