In brief
A Taliban official has firmly dismissed former President Donald Trump's claim that the U.S. could retake Bagram airbase in Afghanistan. This statement came after Trump indicated a desire to reclaim the base, citing its strategic location near China. The Taliban reiterated that during past negotiations, any military presence was completely rejected, emphasizing Afghan sovereignty and the historical context of foreign military operations.
A Taliban official has rejected the idea that the US could retake a key airbase in Afghanistan after President Donald Trump told reporters he wanted it back.
Zakir Jalal, who works in the Taliban's foreign ministry, stated that any notion of the US maintaining a military presence in Afghanistan was completely dismissed during talks prior to the Taliban's return to power.
This response comes in light of Trump's suggestion that recovering Bagram airbase—the center for NATO forces during two decades—could be possible because they need things from us. The base was relinquished to the Afghan military before the Taliban assumed control.
Trump claimed at a UK press conference that the U.S. gave it to them for nothing and expressed regrets about not securing the base, which he described as strategically important, especially in context to China and its proximity to nuclear capabilities.
Moreover, Trump reiterated the importance of Bagram's location, arguing it allows proximity to areas of Chinese nuclear weapon production, despite geographical inaccuracies concerning distances cited in various reports.
In contrast, Jalal maintained that Afghans have historically rejected foreign military presences. He reiterated on a social media platform that discussions during negotiations clearly showed a mutual agreement against such military setups.
The US-Taliban discussions have been ongoing, primarily aimed at addressing issues, including Americans currently held in Afghanistan.
