In a notable development, Jan Achakzai, the Caretaker Minister of Information in Balochistan, has proposed that Pakistan offers drone bases to the United States for operations in Afghanistan. This suggestion comes in the aftermath of a militant attack in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which led to the deaths of 23 Pakistani soldiers.
Achakzai, also a leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, made this recommendation while discussing counter-terrorism strategies. He pointed out the inadequacy of traditional diplomatic responses, like issuing demarches to the Afghan government, in effectively addressing the current security challenges.
In a now-deleted post on the social media platform ‘X’, Achakzai outlined several measures, including conducting targeted operations against militant hideouts in Afghanistan, executing aerial strikes, and closing the border with Afghanistan. He also suggested repatriating Afghan refugees and organizing a political assembly in Islamabad to express opposition to the Afghan Taliban.
His most notable proposal was to offer drone bases to the U.S. for targeting Al-Qaeda and other militant groups in Afghanistan. This suggestion follows previous, unconfirmed reports that the Pakistani army had considered making a similar offer to the U.S., which were later denied by Pakistan’s military public relations wing, ISPR.
The recent militant attack in Daraban, Dera Ismail Khan, claimed by Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), involved militants infiltrating a Pakistani army compound, resulting in a clash with at least 23 soldiers killed and more than 30 injured. The ISPR confirmed these casualties and reported that six attackers were also killed.