Taliban Government Rejects US President's Bid to Retake Bagram Air Base
The Taliban government has rejected a suggestion by U.S. President Donald Trump that American forces could retake the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. A Taliban spokesperson stated that Afghanistan's sovereignty is paramount and urged the U.S. to adhere to the Doha Agreement, which prohibits interference in the country's internal affairs. The statement comes four years after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal that left the strategic military facility under Taliban control, and dismisses any possibility of a renewed U.S. military presence.
Unpacked:
Bagram Air Base is a massive military facility with long runways, advanced infrastructure, and a central location near Kabul. It allows rapid military deployment, intelligence gathering, and power projection across Central Asia. Its proximity to China, Iran, and Pakistan makes it a valuable asset for monitoring regional developments and countering rival powers like China and Russia.
The Doha Agreement, signed in 2020 between the U.S. and the Taliban, outlined the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and included provisions that the U.S. would not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. The Taliban cites this agreement to reject renewed U.S. military presence, including at Bagram.
The U.S. withdrew military forces from Afghanistan in 2021, leaving Bagram Air Base under Taliban control. The withdrawal was chaotic, with the U.S. abandoning large amounts of military equipment and vacating its embassy in Kabul, drawing criticism from various quarters, including former President Trump.
Control of Bagram allows significant surveillance and military capabilities near China's Xinjiang province, heightening U.S. influence in Central Asia. The base’s proximity to China makes it strategically sensitive, and China views a potential renewed U.S. presence as a direct security threat, raising regional tensions.