Pakistan has disclosed that the Taliban, in a move to collaborate with the United States in combating ISIS, has reportedly provided American forces with access to an air base in Kandahar, Afghanistan, traditionally frequented by drones.
Jaan Achakzai, the former intelligence minister of Balochistan province, asserted this development, highlighting interactions between Taliban intelligence and American contractors. Additionally, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hizb-e-Islami, echoed similar sentiments, expressing concerns about ongoing foreign occupation despite the Taliban’s ascendancy. However, the Taliban spokesperson refuted claims of ceding the base to US forces. Given Pakistan’s intimate knowledge of the undisclosed clauses within the Doha Agreement, statements from Hekmatyar and Achakzai underscore the significance of this revelation. Pakistan’s pivotal role in advising the Taliban and facilitating the overt and covert aspects of the Doha Agreement cannot be overlooked. Speculations suggest that the concession of the air base to American forces might be a clandestine component of the agreement, alongside the transition of power to the Taliban and continued financial support.
Notably, American drones have targeted various ISIS strongholds in eastern and southern Afghanistan over the past few years. Despite these developments, Taliban leaders operate freely in Kabul, with some even participating in press conferences despite facing international sanctions. This apparent assurance stems from the terms of the Doha Agreement, which facilitated the rapid rise of the Taliban to power, significantly altering Afghanistan’s political landscape after two decades of foreign involvement.