Donald Trump has advocated reclaiming Bagram airbase, highlighting its strategic location near China’s nuclear sites.
The Taliban has firmly dismissed former US President Donald Trump’s call for the return of the Bagram airbase, which the United States operated throughout its 20-year military engagement in Afghanistan. The group also rejected Trump’s warning of unspecified “bad things” if their demand is not met.
On Sunday, the Taliban emphasized that “Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain paramount,” urging the US to honor previous agreements that preclude the use of force.
“Therefore, it is reiterated that instead of repeating ineffective past strategies, a pragmatic and sensible approach should be embraced,” the Taliban leadership stated.
Bagram, once the largest US military installation in Afghanistan, is situated approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Kabul. It functioned as a critical operational hub during America’s prolonged conflict with the Taliban, which began after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks orchestrated by al-Qaeda. The war concluded abruptly in 2021 with the US’s chaotic exit from the country.
For years, thousands were detained at Bagram by US forces without formal charges or trials amid the so-called “war on terror,” with numerous reports of mistreatment and torture emerging from the facility.
Following the US withdrawal and the collapse of the Afghan government in 2021, the Taliban swiftly regained control of the base.
In recent days, Trump has publicly expressed a strong desire to regain control of Bagram.
“We are currently in discussions with Afghanistan and want the base returned immediately. If they refuse, they will soon learn the consequences,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Saturday.
He initially revealed his intentions during a press conference in the United Kingdom alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump’s remarks drew attention in Beijing, as he stated, “We want that base back because they rely on us. One key reason is its proximity-just an hour away from where China develops its nuclear arsenal.”
The nuclear facilities Trump referenced are believed to be located at Lop Nur, China’s nuclear testing site in the western Xinjiang region.
The US Air Force describes Bagram as having an 11,800-foot (3,597-meter) runway capable of accommodating bombers and large cargo planes.
Criticizing his successor, President Joe Biden, for the disorderly US exit from Afghanistan-a withdrawal Trump himself initiated-he claimed the US “handed over Bagram to the Taliban without any compensation.”
Afghan authorities have strongly opposed any renewed American military presence. Zakir Jalaly, a Foreign Ministry representative, remarked, “Historically, Afghans have rejected foreign troops on their soil,” while emphasizing the importance of fostering “economic and political ties grounded in mutual respect and shared interests.”
Fasihuddin Fitrat, a senior official in the Ministry of Defence, declared, “No agreement will be made over even a single inch of Afghan territory. We do not require such arrangements.”
Originally constructed during the Cold War by the Soviet Union in the early 1950s, Bagram was developed when Afghanistan sought Moscow’s support. The base supported Soviet military operations until their withdrawal in the late 1980s.
Decades later, the US refurbished the airbase during its occupation, transforming it into a self-contained complex with amenities catering to American troops stationed there.
