Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Sunday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s call to hand over control of the strategic Bagram Air Base, condemning Washington’s demand in strong words. Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, in an interview with Tolo News, said “not even one metre of Afghan land will be given to the Americans,” directly rebuffing Trump’s remarks that the US was seeking to reclaim the base.Trump during a joint presser with UK PM Keir Starmer said “We’re trying to get it back. We gave it to [the Taliban] for nothing,” he complained, adding that Bagram is “exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles”. Afghan’s foreign ministry also issued a formal statement reaffirming Afghanistan’s commitment to a “balanced, economy-oriented foreign policy” based on Islamic principles and mutual interests. “Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity are of the utmost importance and remain non-negotiable in all engagements, including with the United States,” the statement said.
Why is the Bargam airbase strategically important
The base, located about 40 kilometers north of Kabul, was the largest US military installation in Afghanistan before the chaotic US withdrawal in 2021.Bagram Air Base holds significant strategic value for China primarily because of its close proximity — roughly an hour’s flight — to China’s sensitive Xinjiang region, which hosts key nuclear weapons programs.In Xinjiang, China maintains extensive nuclear missile silo fields, such as near the cities of Hami and Yumen, along with the Lop Nur nuclear test site. China is actively expanding its nuclear arsenal and nuclear testing infrastructure in this area as part of its military modernization efforts.Bagram served as the main hub for US military operations throughout America’s 20-year presence in Afghanistan and housed a notorious detention centre where thousands were held without charge during the “war on terror,” according to rights groups.
How did Afghan officials react
Afghanistan rejected Trump’s call. A foreign ministry official declared on social media on Friday that Kabul is ready to engage, but maintained that the US will not be allowed to re-establish a military presence in the central Asian country.“Afghanistan and the US need to engage with one another … without the US maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan,” Zakir Jalal, a foreign ministry official, posted on social media. Kabul is ready to pursue political and economic ties with Washington based on “mutual respect and shared interests,” he added. The Taliban cited the 2020 Doha Agreement—signed during Trump’s first term—which obliges Washington not to threaten Afghanistan’s territorial integrity or interfere in its internal affairs. “It is necessary that they remain faithful to their commitments. Rather than repeating past failed approaches, a policy of realism and rationality should be adopted,” the statement added.
‘Bad things are going to happen’: Trump’s warning to Afghanistan over Bagram airbase
US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Afghanistan, demanding the return of Bagram Air Base to Washington or face consequences. “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.
China calls out Trump’s demand
China has also voiced opposition to Trump’s call, accusing Washington of stoking regional instability. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters: “China respects Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The future of Afghanistan should be in the hands of its people. Hyping up regional tensions does not win support.”
