WASHINGTON: The United States Department of Defense has emphasized that controlling Afghanistan’s airspace is the responsibility of the Taliban government, not the US.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, during a press briefing, said that the US “over-the-horizon” program is an effective means of monitoring and managing activities in Afghanistan.
The Taliban have repeatedly accused the US of violating Afghanistan’s airspace with drone operations conducted without permission.
Reports indicate that American drones have been active over various Afghan provinces, including Kandahar, Kapisa, Kabul, Badakhshan, Panjshir, Nimroz, and Herat.
In response to these allegations, Singh stated, “That seems like a problem for them, not for us,” while reaffirming the effectiveness of the US over-the-horizon capabilities. She noted that the US had committed to monitoring terrorist activities in Afghanistan through aerial surveillance following its withdrawal from the country.
This strategy includes enhanced capabilities to monitor, control, and, if necessary, target terrorist activities in the region.
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton recently claimed that foreign terrorists have returned to Afghanistan and urged the US to cease support for the Taliban.
Despite expert concerns that groups like al-Qaeda may be re-establishing themselves in Afghanistan, Singh maintained that the US over-the-horizon program has been successful in countering terrorism in the region.
