Taliban Firmly Rejects Trump’s Push to Reclaim Bagram Air Base Amid New Tensions
Taliban Firmly Rejects Trump’s Push to Reclaim Bagram Air Base Amid New Tensions
The Taliban government has definitively rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent call to reestablish an American presence at Afghanistan’s strategic Bagram Air Base. This strong rejection comes four years after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal left the sprawling military facility in Taliban control.
Trump, who had renewed his bid for Bagram’s return over the weekend, hinted at ongoing discussions with Afghanistan. While he declined to detail potential troop deployment, he asserted, “We want it back, and we want it back right away. If they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do.”
Chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid swiftly dismissed Trump’s assertions, urging the U.S. to adopt “realism and rationality.” Mujahid emphasized Afghanistan’s economy-oriented foreign policy and its pursuit of constructive relations based on mutual interests. He reiterated that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity are paramount, citing the Doha Agreement’s pledge that the U.S. would not “use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan.”
Echoing Mujahid’s stance, Fasihuddin Fitrat, chief of staff at the Defense Ministry, declared earlier that “Ceding even an inch of our soil to anyone is out of the question and impossible.”
Trump had suggested last week during a UK state visit that the Taliban, grappling with economic challenges and internal rifts, might be amenable to a U.S. return, stating, “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us.” Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, the U.S. and Taliban have engaged in hostage negotiations, leading to a recent American release and discussions on a prisoner exchange, though details remain scarce from the U.S. side.
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