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Taliban Accuses Pakistan of Allowing US Drones to Use its Airspace

Armed members of Taliban stand guard near a Mosque that was damaged in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, 18 August 2022. (EPA)
Armed members of Taliban stand guard near a Mosque that was damaged in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, 18 August 2022. (EPA)
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Taliban Accuses Pakistan of Allowing US Drones to Use its Airspace

Armed members of Taliban stand guard near a Mosque that was damaged in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, 18 August 2022. (EPA)
Armed members of Taliban stand guard near a Mosque that was damaged in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, 18 August 2022. (EPA)

The Taliban's acting defense minister on Sunday said Pakistan had allowed American drones to use its airspace to access Afghanistan, a charge Pakistan has recently denied following a US air strike in Kabul.

Acting Minister of Defense Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob told reporters at a news conference in Kabul that American drones have been entering Afghanistan via Pakistan.

"According to our information the drones are entering through Pakistan to Afghanistan, they use Pakistan's airspace, we ask Pakistan, don't use your airspace against us," he said.

Pakistan's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Pakistani authorities have denied involvement in or advanced knowledge of a drone strike the United States said it carried out in Kabul in July that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Yaqoob's comments could exacerbate tension between the neighboring nations at a time when the Afghan Taliban is mediating talks between Pakistan and a Pakistani Taliban militant group. Afghanistan also relies heavily on trade with Pakistan as the country experiences an economic crisis.

The Taliban said it is investigating the July air strike and that it has not found the Al-Qaeda leader's body.

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Turkish Court Arrests Journalist for Threatening Erdogan

 Journalist Fatih Altayli 
 Journalist Fatih Altayli 
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Turkish Court Arrests Journalist for Threatening Erdogan

 Journalist Fatih Altayli 
 Journalist Fatih Altayli 

A Turkish court on Sunday arrested prominent independent journalist Fatih Altayli over comments on his social media allegedly threatening President Tayyip Erdogan.

Altayli, who has more than 1.5 million YouTube subscribers, was referred to the Criminal Court of Peace in Istanbul after testifying at the prosecutor's office.

He was detained from home on Saturday over comments in a video he posted on Friday in which he addressed a poll showing most Turks opposed Erdogan ruling for life.

Prosecutors in Istanbul later said the remarks “contained threats” against the president and launched an investigation.

The text of the court's order said Altayli’s actions violated Article 310/2 via 106/1 of the Turkish Penal Code. Under the Turkish law, a person violating those articles face a minimum penalty of five years in prison.

On Friday, Altayli posted a video referencing an unnamed poll showing 70% of Turks opposed Erdogan ruling for life, saying this would “never be allowed” by the Turkish people.

Altayli also referenced past Ottoman rulers in his comments, saying people had “drowned,” “killed,” or “assassinated them in the past.”

“Look at the history of this nation ... This is a nation which strangled its sultan when they didn’t like him or want him. There are quite a few Ottoman sultans who were assassinated, strangled, or whose deaths were made to look like suicide,” he said.

His comments drew backlash from an Erdogan aide, Oktay Saral, who said on X that Altayli's “water was boiling.”

An investigation was immediately launched by the Istanbul Public Prosecutors’ Office.

During questioning, Altayli denied threatening the president. “I did not threaten President Erdogan. I only provided historical context. I do not accept the charges brought against me,” he said before the court.

Altayli's detention comes amid a series of detentions of opposition figures in recent months, including the arrest in March of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu who is Erdogan's main political rival.

Türkiye’s main opposition CHP leader Ozgur Ozel condemned the arrest of Altayli. On X, Ozel wrote, “We are facing a government that fears journalists, youth, women and the nation. But no one can be intimidated by pressure anymore. Altayli is a journalist, and he should be released as soon as possible.”