Taliban Rejects US Demand to Retake Bagram Air Base
Afghan Official Rules Out Any Deal
KABUL – A senior Afghan Taliban official has firmly rejected the possibility of handing over Bagram Air Base to the United States, following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting Washington could reclaim the former military hub.
On Saturday, Trump warned Afghanistan of “bad things” if the base was not returned, issuing the threat during a state visit to the United Kingdom. He later reiterated his demand on his Truth Social platform, stating:
“If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!”
Taliban Response: “Not an Inch of Soil”
Responding on Sunday, Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Staff at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, dismissed any chance of a deal over the base.
“Recently, some people have said that they have entered negotiations with Afghanistan for taking back Bagram Air Base,” Fitrat told local media. “A deal over even an inch of Afghanistan’s soil is not possible. We don’t need it.”
Bagram’s Strategic Significance
Bagram, once the largest US military installation in Afghanistan, served as a central command post during the two-decade-long war following the September 11, 2001, attacks. The base was a key hub for air operations, logistics, and intelligence in the US-led campaign against the Taliban.
US Withdrawal and Taliban Takeover
US and NATO forces abruptly abandoned Bagram in July 2021, as part of a Trump-brokered agreement with the Taliban. The withdrawal, marked by chaos and confusion, left Afghanistan’s military without crucial air support. Within weeks, the Afghan government collapsed, paving the way for the Taliban’s swift return to power.