There is no US military or airbase in Pakistan

Ahmed Awan

United States and Pakistan flags together textile cloth, fabric texture

The Foreign Office (FO) has denied the presence of any US military or airbase in Pakistan. Any speculation is “baseless and irresponsible” and should be avoided.

Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudri said: “There is no US military or airbase in Pakistan. No such proposal envisaged. Any speculation on this account is baseless and irresponsible and should be avoided.”

The spokesperson added that Pakistan and the US have a framework of cooperation. In terms of Air Lines of Communication (ALOC) and Ground Lines of Communication (GLOC) in place since 2001.

The FO statement comes after a Pentagon official said that Pakistan had allowed the US military. To use its airspace and given ground access so that it can support its presence in Afghanistan.

David F. Helvey, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs, told the US Senate Armed Services Committee last week that the United States would continue its conversation with Pakistan because it had a critical role in restoring peace to Afghanistan.

The official was replying to a question from Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, who asked him to “outline your assessment of Pakistan, and particularly of Pakistani intelligence agencies, and the role you expect them to play in our future”.

“Pakistan has played an important role. They supported the Afghan peace process. Pakistan also has allowed us to have overflight and access to be able to support our military presence in Afghanistan,” Mr. Helvey said.

“We will continue our conversations with Pakistan because their support to the future of Afghanistan, to future peace in Afghanistan, is going to be critical,”.