Pakistan's foreign ministry issued a statement noting with "deep concern" the "allegation by Acting Defense Minister of Afghanistan regarding use of Pakistan’s air space in the US counter-terrorism drone operation in Afghanistan.”

Mawlawi Yaqoob Mujahid said US drones are entering Afghanistan through Pakistan, and Pakistan should not permit the use of its airspace against Afghanistan.

"In the absence of any evidence," the Pakistani statement said, “such conjectural allegations are highly regrettable and defy the norms of responsible diplomatic conduct."

Islamabad also urged the Afghan interim authorities to ensure the fulfillment of international commitments made by Afghanistan not to allow the use of its territory for terrorism against any country.

Political analysts:

“With the presence of NATO and the US, all NATO and American forces' equipment was provided via Pakistan. Now, Pakistan has also allowed the US to use Pakistan’s airspace,” said Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, a political analyst.

“They cannot come from the north or via the Middle East. It is a fact that they have given stations for them. From the first time they bombarded Afghanistan, they used the stations in Pakistan. Neighboring norms and nobility don't allow this, but they (Pakistan) do it,” said Haji Matin Mohammad Khail, a political analyst.

This comes as US president Joe Biden earlier announced that a drone strike killed Ayman-al Zawahiri, leader of the al-Qaeda network.