A US Department of Defence official said the Pentagon had no information to provide in response to Taliban claims that American drones continue to fly in Afghan airspace.

The comment was made after Afghanistan International asked the department about remarks by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who told an Iranian media outlet that US drones were still entering Afghanistan, reportedly via the airspace of certain neighbouring countries. He said the Taliban had raised the issue in relevant meetings and had urged that the flights be halted.

Mujahid did not specify which neighbouring countries were allegedly being used as transit routes. He had previously accused Pakistan of enabling US drones to access Afghanistan’s airspace.

Before the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan’s air traffic control was largely managed with assistance from foreign governments and NATO. Since then, the issue of drone activity over Afghan territory has continued to attract attention and debate.