Taliban ask US not to operate drones over Afghan airspace, to prevent consequences

Mujahid also stated that acting on obligations would prevent negative consequences. “We call on all countries, especially the United States, to act in accordance with mutual obligations … to prevent any negative consequences,” he said in a tweet, according to Sputnik.

The Pentagon had last month said that it will continue to conduct drone strikes against the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and other terrorist groups operating within the South Asian nation. “We have the capability from an over the horizon perspective of ensuring our national security interests are protected and defended,” said press secretary of Pentagon John Kirby, according to Fox News. “And what I would tell you, without getting into hypotheticals or speculating about future operations, we’re going to continue to maintain those capabilities and use them if and when we need to,” Kirby added.

Meanwhile, The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday denied U.S. landing rights for a charter plane carrying more than 100 Americans and U.S. green card holders evacuated from Afghanistan, organizers of the flight said.

“They will not allow a charter on an international flight into a U.S. port of entry,” Bryan Stern, a founder of non-profit group Project Dynamo, said of the department’s Customs and Border Protection agency.

A senior State Department official on Monday said the United States was aware of about 100 American citizens and legal permanent residents ready to leave Afghanistan.

Twenty-eight Americans, 83 green card holders and six people with U.S. Special Immigration Visas granted to Afghans who worked for the U.S. government during the 20-year war in Afghanistan were aboard the Kam Air flight, Stern said

– HINDUSTAN TIMES