Pakistan denies CNN report claiming an ‘agreement’ for allowing US to use airspace for operations in Afghanistan

Pakistan has denied a CNN report that claimed the US is nearing to “formalize an agreement with Pakistan for the use of its airspace by the United States to conduct military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan.”

#Pakistan denies CNN report it has any "understanding" with the US on the "formalization of an agreement for the use of Pakistan’s airspace by the United States to conduct military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan." @ForeignOfficePk

— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) October 23, 2021

Earlier today, CNN reported that The US is “nearing” to formalizing an agreement with Pakistan that would allow Washington to use Pakistani airspace to conduct military and intelligence operations against Afghanistan.

The report has cited three sources familiar with the details of a classified briefing held by the American President Joe Biden with members of Congress. 

 According to sources, “Pakistan had expressed the desire to sign an MoU with the US government over the matter. In exchange, the country wants assistance with its own counterterrorism efforts and help in handling the relationship with India. 

However, nothing is final yet as talks between the two countries are still going on, and the terms of the agreement can change, the report quoted a source as saying. 

For the first time in two decades, the United States does not have a military presence in Afghanistan as its troops pulled out of the country on the 31st of August. 

“An American military currently uses Pakistan’s airspace to enter Afghanistan as part of ongoing intelligence-gathering efforts. However, there is no formal contract to assure continued access to a critical piece of airspace needed for the US to reach Afghanistan,” reads a part of the CNN report. 

A third source told CNN that the airspace deal was discussed between the two countries when US officials recently visited Pakistan. However, the source said, “it’s not yet clear what Pakistan wants or how much the US would be willing to give in return.”

A Pentagon spokesperson, when contacted by CNN, refused to comment on closed briefings. 

In June, Prime Minister Imran Khan was asked by the US media for his comments on giving access to the Central Intelligence Agency to military bases.

The American journalist, Jonathan Swan, had asked the premier. “Will you allow the American government to have the CIA here in Pakistan to conduct cross-border counterterrorism missions against Al Qaeda, ISIS, and the Taliban?” 

“Absolutely not,” PM Imran Khan had replied.

“There is no way we are going to allow any bases or any action from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan.” the PM had said. 

What are your views on this? Share in the comments bar below.