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"VAN" (Afghanistan Bureau - 23.10.2021) :: Joe Biden’s Administration has said that they are nearing reaching a formal agreement with Pakistan over using its airspace to conduct military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan, CNN found. Sources have told CNN that Pakistan has shown a desire to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in exchange for assistance with its own counterterrorism efforts and help in managing relations with its archrival, India. The bilateral agreement is yet to be finalized and another source has told CNN that the terms can change any time. US is desperately looking for airspace or any base in the region close to Afghanistan to enable them to conduct military and intelligence over the horizon operations as they no longer have a presence in Afghanistan. Pakistan has previously denied providing military bases to the US. The US is currently using Pakistan’s airspace for gathering intelligence in Afghanistan but the country is looking for long-time access to Pakistan’s airspace to its plane and drones en route to Afghanistan. The United States will significantly need Pakistan’s airspace once it starts flights from Kabul to fly out people. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are the other two potential options for US over-the-horizon operations in Afghanistan but they seem long shots due to Russia. KP
On Fri, Mar 29, 2024