ISLAMABAD - Rubbishing a US media report, Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Saturday categorically denied that any understanding with the United States was in place to allow the use of its airspace for military and intelligence operation in Afghanistan.
Quoting three sources, a CNN report published Friday claimed the Biden administration had told the lawmakers of nearing a formalised agreement with Pakistan for use of its airspace to conduct military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan.
However, responding to the US media claim, the Foreign Office spokesperson said, “no such understanding was in place. “
In response to media queries regarding latest news report alluding to formalisation of an agreement for the use of Pakistan’s airspace by the United States to conduct military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan, the Spokesperson stated that no such understanding was in place,” he said in a statement.
“Pakistan and the US have longstanding cooperation on regional security and counter-terrorism and the two sides remain engaged in regular consultations,” he maintained.
CNN Friday reported that Pakistan has expressed a desire to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in exchange for assistance with its own counterterrorism efforts and help in managing the relationship with India, one of the sources said. But the negotiations are ongoing, another source said, and the terms of the agreement, which has not been finalised, could still change.
The US military currently uses Pakistan’s airspace to reach Afghanistan as part of ongoing intelligence-gathering efforts, but there is no formal agreement in place to ensure continued access to a critical piece of airspace necessary for the US to reach Afghanistan. The air corridor through Pakistan to Afghanistan may become even more critical if and when the US resumes flights into Kabul to fly out American citizens and others who remain in the country. The third source said that an agreement was discussed when US officials visited Pakistan, but it’s not yet clear what Pakistan wants or how much the US would be willing to give in return. With no formal agreement currently in place, the US runs the risk of Pakistan refusing entry to US military aircraft and drones en route to Afghanistan. A Pentagon spokesman said the Defense Department does not comment on closed briefings due to security classifications.