The Taliban government in Afghanistan has officially responded to the US President’s remarks about handing over the Bagram airbase, stating that Afghanistan’s independence is their top priority.
On September 21, the Taliban government released a statement, shared by Deputy Spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat, emphasizing that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity are paramount, without specifically mentioning the Bagram airbase.
This comes after US President Trump, in a statement on his social media platform Truth Social on September 20, threatened that if Afghanistan doesn’t hand over the Bagram airbase to its builder, the US, bad things will happen. Trump said the US is trying to retake the base, claiming the Taliban needs some things from the US.
He didn’t provide further details, and the White House hasn’t commented on the matter.
However, Trump has previously stated his intention to retake the Bagram airbase, citing its proximity to China’s nuclear facilities. In recent days, he has repeatedly made serious remarks about handing over the base to the US, including during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on September 18.
The US President’s argument is that the area is only an hour’s distance from where China builds nuclear weapons. The Wall Street Journal reported on September 19 that US officials have held talks with Taliban leaders on counter-terrorism.
According to the Taliban’s statement, the US should not adhere to the Doha Agreement, which stipulates that the US will not use force or threats against Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and political independence, nor will it interfere in its internal affairs.
The Doha Agreement was signed on February 29, 2020. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the agreement.
Former US Special Envoy for Afghan Peace, Zalmay Khalilzad, has said that there’s a possibility of using the Bagram airbase for joint counter-terrorism operations. Khalilzad, who recently visited Kabul for prisoner swaps, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on September 20 that if progress is made on prisoner exchanges, it’s likely that other agreements will follow.
He said, “Over time, for increased security cooperation and joint counter-terrorism operations, I don’t rule out the issue of using the Bagram base.” However, he emphasized that this would come with challenges.
The base was handed over to the then-Afghan government just weeks before chaos erupted in July 2021, during the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. After the Taliban’s return to power on August 15, 2021, Washington limited its public engagement with the current Afghan rulers to negotiations on prisoner releases.
Afghanistan is currently isolated globally, facing challenges in economic activity, receiving foreign aid, and attracting private investment. Trump has previously made remarks about acquiring or buying territories, including the Panama Canal and Greenland, and suggested making Canada the 51st US state, sparking outrage in those countries.
The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, Pakistan, and China have jointly expressed opposition to the establishment of foreign military bases in and around Afghanistan.
In a joint statement released after a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the four countries emphasized Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity. The statement said: “The four countries strongly oppose countries that are responsible for the current situation in Afghanistan and want to establish military bases in and around the country again.”
The regional foreign ministers stressed that establishing military bases in Afghanistan would not benefit regional peace and security.
On other hand, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, said the US intervention and 20-year military presence in Afghanistan have brought nothing but “misfortune and insecurity.
“He added that this presence has caused casualties among Afghans and exacerbated terrorism, narcotics, corruption, poverty, and displacement. Araqchi called on the Taliban government to take “clear, credible, and serious measures” against all terrorist groups. He emphasized that the fight against terrorism must be “comprehensive, impartial, and in accordance with international law.” The Taliban government has denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
