Pakistan says PAF not providing air support to Taliban

TIL Desk/World/Islamabad/ Pakistan on Friday rejected Afghanistan Vice President Amrullah Saleh”s remarks that the Pakistan Air Force was providing air support to the Taliban militants in the border areas of Chaman and Spin Boldak. Such statements undermine Pakistan”s sincere efforts to play its part in an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led solution, the Pakistan Foreign Office said here in a statement.

On Thursday, Afghanistan Vice President Saleh tweeted: “Pakistan air force has issued (an) official warning to the Afghan Army and Air Force that any move to dislodge the Taliban from Spin Boldak area will be faced and repelled by the Pakistan Air Force. Pak air force is now providing close air support to Taliban in certain areas.”

Fierce fighting has been going on for the last few days between the Afghan forces and the Taliban in Spin Boldak town of Kandahar. The Taliban militants have seized dozens of districts in recent weeks and are now thought to control about a third of the country, ahead of the complete withdrawal of US and Western troops from Afghanistan by September 11.

Pakistan on Friday said it had accepted a request by the Afghanistan government to carry out air operations close to the border adjacent to its Chaman sector, despite risks and international practice to not allow such operations close to the border.