Taliban Rejects U.S. Intentions to Reclaim Bagram Airbase

The Taliban has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's recent suggestion that the United States might seek to reclaim Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. Zakir Jalal, a Taliban official from the foreign ministry, stated that the possibility of a U.S. military presence was "completely" rejected during prior negotiations. He emphasized that "throughout history, Afghans have not accepted a military presence."

President Trump, during a press conference in the United Kingdom, indicated that the U.S. is "trying" to regain control of Bagram Airbase, citing its strategic proximity to China. He noted that the base is "an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons." However, a BBC investigation found no evidence of Chinese presence at the base since the Taliban assumed control.

The U.S. military vacated Bagram Airbase in July 2021 as part of a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, a process initiated under the Trump administration and concluded under President Joe Biden. The base was subsequently taken over by the Taliban in August 2021. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated that "China respects Afghanistan's territorial integrity and sovereignty," adding that "the future of Afghanistan should be in the hands of Afghan people."