By Aldgra Fredly
The Taliban regime on Sept. 21 rejected President Donald Trump’s call for the United States to regain control of the Bagram Air Base, the main base for U.S. forces in Afghanistan before their 2021 withdrawal.
In a statement, the Taliban emphasized that “Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity are of the utmost importance” and urged the United States to abide by the pledge it made under the 2020 Doha Agreement.
“It should be recalled that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States pledged that ‘it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs.’ Therefore, it is necessary that they remain faithful to their commitments,” the Afghan ruler stated.
The regime also expressed its intention to have “constructive relations” with the United States “on the basis of mutual and shared interests.”
“Accordingly, it is once again underscored that, rather than repeating past failed approaches, a policy of realism and rationality should be adopted,” it stated.
In response, Trump warned on the Truth Social platform that “bad things are going to happen” if the Taliban regime refuses to return control of the major air base to the United States.
Trump has pushed for the United States to reclaim control of the air base, though he stopped short of confirming whether this would require a troop deployment to Afghanistan.
Bagram Air Base was the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan, serving as the main hub for U.S. forces’ operations following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by terrorist organization al-Qaeda against the United States.
U.S. forces relinquished control over the major air base in 2021, during the force drawdown from the country. The United States handed over control of the base to the U.S.-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which collapsed in August 2021 as the Taliban seized control over the Afghan capital city of Kabul.
During a news conference in the UK on Sept. 18, Trump suggested that the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan need supplies that the United States can provide and may be amenable to a deal allowing a renewed U.S. presence at the key base.
“We’re trying to get it back, because they need things from us. We want that base back,” he told reporters.
Trump stressed the potential strategic significance of a renewed U.S. presence in Afghanistan, including as a strategic counterbalance to China.
“One of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” he said.
The Doha Agreement outlined U.S. forces’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and included guarantees that Afghan territory would not be used by international terrorist groups to launch attacks against the United States.
Ryan Morgan contributed to this report.
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