The Taliban rejected calls for the United States to regain control of the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
“It has been consistently communicated to the United States in all bilateral negotiations that, for the Islamic Emirate, Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity are of the utmost importance,” the statement read, in part. “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.”
“Accordingly, it is once again underscored that, rather than repeating past failed approaches, a policy of realism and rationality should be adopted,” the Taliban added.
President Trump said last week that the United States is “trying” to recover U.S. Bagram Airfield from the Taliban.
“We’re trying to get it back by the way,” Trump said. “That could be a little breaking news, we’re trying to get it back because they need things from us. We want that base back. But one of the reasons we want the base is it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. So a lot of things are happening.”
He later declared on Truth Social that if “Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!”
Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth opened an investigation into the Biden-era Afghanistan withdrawal, an operation that led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members.
