Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said US drones continue to fly over Afghanistan, claiming the aircraft have been operating in the country’s airspace since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
He said the drones transit through neighbouring states and violate Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
In an interview with Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Mujahid repeated the Taliban’s call for the flights to end, saying they must be stopped “as soon as possible” and describing them as a breach of Afghanistan’s airspace. He said Taliban authorities had raised their objections in the limited meetings available to them.
Mujahid did not specify which neighbouring country’s airspace the drones reportedly cross before entering Afghanistan, though he has previously accused Pakistan of providing access to US aircraft.
Mujahid said the Taliban had implemented 70 percent of their programmes during their four years in power. He cited sanctions on Taliban leaders, travel restrictions and the absence of international recognition as the administration’s main challenges.
Addressing criticism over the Taliban’s treatment of the Persian language, he said the group did not hold “a prejudiced view” toward languages in Afghanistan and regarded both Persian and Pashto as part of Afghan culture. His comments came despite multiple controversies, including the recent removal of Uzbek and Persian-language terms from university signboards in northern provinces.
Mujahid also said the Taliban were satisfied with Iran’s policy toward their administration, describing relations over the past four years as “good and brotherly.”
On Iran’s water rights under the Helmand River treaty, he said the Taliban had “no issues” with the agreement and that Iran would receive its share if water levels permitted. He said Iranian delegations had visited Afghanistan and received explanations from Afghan officials.
Mujahid said the Taliban were pursuing a “balanced, economy-focused” foreign policy and sought relations with all countries, including the United States, provided Afghanistan’s sovereignty was respected.
Asked whether US forces could return to Afghanistan, he said the Taliban would “never” allow “even an inch” of Afghan territory to fall under foreign control and insisted no foreign troops would be permitted on Afghan soil.
He also denied reports of a Chinese presence at Bagram air base, saying neither US nor Chinese forces had returned and that the Taliban would not allow any country to establish a military base in Afghanistan.
