The US and Afghanistan are on the verge of a potential direct conflict, once again. The Taliban have warned the US against ‘negative consequences’ amidst reports that the Pentagon is evaluating the possibility of airstrikes on Afghanistan to prevent the resurgence of Al-Qaeda and Islamic State Khurasan Province.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said, “We call on all countries, especially the United States, to treat Afghanistan in light of international rights, laws, and commitments … in order to prevent any negative consequences.”
The Taliban has warned of consequences if the United States did not stop flying drones over Afghan airspace.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Zabihullah Mujahid said, “The US has violated all international rights and laws as well as its commitments made to the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, with the operation of these drones in Afghanistan.”
Mujahid said, “Countries, under international laws, are the sole owners of their territorial and air sovereignty. Therefore, Islamic Emirate, as the sole legal entity of Afghanistan, is the custodian of Afghanistan’s land and airspace.”
He added, “We call on all countries, especially the United States, to treat Afghanistan in light of international rights, laws, and commitments … in order to prevent any negative consequences.”
Earlier on Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had said, “Over-the-horizon operations are difficult but absolutely possible.”
Announcing the complete withdrawal of US troops in April, President Joe Biden had vowed that he would not allow a comeback of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan from where Osama bin Laden planned the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington.
Since then, the Pentagon has repeatedly asserted that it is capable of holding Al-Qaeda and ISKP militants in Afghanistan in check through airstrikes from the nearest US bases or aircraft carriers.
The US lawmakers and experts have not opposed the Pentagon’s suggestions of drone attacks but are skeptical about the effectiveness of the long-distance airstrike from far away airbases.
Earlier in September, during the disorganized withdrawal, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had admitted that the United States was working with the Taliban on “a very narrow set of issues”. The same month when the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley was asked that whether the military would cooperate with the Taliban on fighting the ISKP, the general answered, “It’s possible.” The recent statement of the Pentagon is in contrast with their earlier statements.
