"The Ministry of Defense is the top priority in the budget," announced Afghan Army Chief of Staff Qari Fasiheddin in a rare interview with foreign media. He noted that it received significantly larger amounts than other ministries, as it is one of the priorities in the budget largely funded by tax increases and customs revenues.
In a special talk with Reuters, he stated that the main focus of defense is on securing Afghan airspace against drones and other intrusions, mentioning that Afghanistan's issue lies in securing anti-aircraft missiles and that they are trying their best to acquire them. He said, "The place from which we will obtain them is secret, but we must acquire them."
Qari Fasiheddin, a Taliban leader from Badakhshan in northern Afghanistan, condemned the incursions of foreign drones into Afghan airspace during his statements on Tuesday. However, he refrained from naming Pakistan, where the Taliban administration has repeatedly protested, accusing its neighbor of allowing drones to enter Afghanistan.
Fasiheddin warned, "We have always tried and will try to resolve the issue through diplomatic means, and we have done our utmost to exercise patience regarding these cases." He added, "Neighboring countries should not exhaust our patience."
The Taliban's defense ambitions, which came to power in 2021, are faced with severe international criticism over policies such as restricting women's work and education, which have hindered steps toward diplomatic recognition.
