Taliban Firmly Rejects Trump’s Bid to Reclaim Bagram Air Base

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban government on Sunday unequivocally rejected a proposal from former U.S. President Donald Trump to retake control of Bagram Air Base. This decisive refusal comes four years after the United States’ turbulent withdrawal from Afghanistan, which left the vast military installation in Taliban hands.

While the specifics of any U.S. discussions with Afghan officials regarding a potential return remain unclear, Trump had suggested that the Taliban, facing ongoing economic challenges, internal divisions, and a struggle for international legitimacy since their 2021 return to power, might be open to a U.S. military presence once more.

However, chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid swiftly dismissed Trump’s assertions. Mujahid, posting on X, urged the U.S. to adopt a policy rooted in “realism and rationality,” emphasizing Afghanistan’s economy-centric foreign policy and its pursuit of constructive relations based on mutual and shared interests. He reiterated that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity have been consistently communicated as paramount in all bilateral negotiations.

Mujahid further cited the Doha Agreement, reminding the U.S. of its pledge “not to use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs,” and stressed the importance of honoring these commitments. He did not respond to inquiries regarding specific conversations with the Trump administration about Bagram or the basis for Trump’s belief that the U.S. could reclaim the base.

Last August, the Taliban marked the third anniversary of their takeover at Bagram with a prominent military display featuring abandoned U.S. hardware, an event that reportedly drew attention from the White House. Trump has frequently criticized his successor, Joe Biden, for alleged “gross incompetence” during the U.S. forces’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, concluding America’s longest war.

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