A Taliban official has dismissed the notion that the United States could regain control of Bagram airbase in Afghanistan following comments from former President Donald Trump, who expressed a desire to reclaim it. Zakir Jalal, affiliated with the Taliban’s foreign ministry, stated that discussions prior to the Taliban’s return to power clearly rejected any possibility of a continued U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.
Trump indicated at a press conference in the UK that the U.S. had transferred the airbase to Afghan forces without charge. This transfer occurred shortly before the Taliban regained control of the country. The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was part of a deal established during Trump’s first term in 2020 and completed under President Joe Biden in 2021. In remarks made in March, Trump mentioned he had intended to retain Bagram airbase due to its strategic importance, particularly in relation to China.
He reiterated this sentiment recently, claiming that taking back Bagram would be relevant because of its proximity to locations associated with Chinese nuclear capabilities. However, the specifics of Trump’s comments have raised questions, as prior investigations highlighted that a nuclear testing site is located approximately 2,000 kilometers from Bagram.
Trump has also alleged that China has established a presence at Bagram, which is located north of Kabul; the Taliban has contested this assertion. An investigation by the BBC, which reviewed satellite imagery from late 2020 to 2025, found minimal activity at the airbase since the Taliban’s return and no signs of Chinese involvement.
In response, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry affirmed their respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and stated that the future of Afghanistan should be determined by its people. Jalal reinforced the Taliban’s stance on military presence, indicating that while an ongoing engagement with the U.S. is possible, any military presence is unequivocally rejected. Recent talks between the U.S. and the Taliban have focused on the issue of Americans remaining in Afghanistan.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24rz9jeyjjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss