KABUL: The Afghan government has firmly rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to reclaim Bagram Air Base, underscoring that any future engagement with Washington must exclude the return of American troops to Afghan soil.
Speaking at a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, Trump described Bagram — once the epicenter of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan — as a valuable strategic asset near China.
“We’re trying to get it back,” he said. “We want that base back.”
But Kabul responded swiftly and unequivocally.
“Afghanistan and the United States need to engage… without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan,” said Zakir Jalal, a senior official in the Afghan foreign ministry, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that future relations should be built on mutual respect and shared interests, not military arrangements. The ministry reiterated its stance later in the day: “The presence of US forces in Afghanistan is unacceptable and unworkable.”
The air base, originally built by the Soviets, became a symbol of America’s military footprint in the region after the 9/11 attacks. It remained the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan until the 2021 withdrawal, when Taliban forces swept into power following the collapse of the U.S.-backed government.
Trump himself had supported the withdrawal from Afghanistan during his presidency, including the decision to vacate Bagram. His recent reversal, citing the base’s proximity to China, has raised eyebrows both in Kabul and abroad.
China’s Response: Stability Over Confrontation
Weighing in on the controversy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized regional sovereignty and warned against geopolitical maneuvering.
“The future and destiny of Afghanistan should be held in the hands of the Afghan people,” Lin said at a press briefing on Friday.
“Stoking tensions and creating confrontation in the region wins no popular support.”
China has maintained consistent diplomatic contact with the Taliban and has called for greater international recognition of Afghanistan’s current leadership — while urging stability and economic cooperation across the region.
Despite having no formal diplomatic ties with the Taliban-led government, Washington has continued quiet engagements, particularly on humanitarian and hostage-related issues.
Last weekend, senior U.S. officials — including Adam Boehler, Trump’s former special envoy for hostage affairs, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the ex-U.S. envoy to Afghanistan — held meetings in Kabul with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The talks focused on securing the release of American nationals detained in Afghanistan.
Still, the U.S. maintains that it does not recognize the Taliban government.
Looking Ahead
While Trump’s remarks about Bagram may be driven by concerns over Chinese influence in the region, Afghanistan’s response makes one thing clear: a return of American troops is off the table.
Kabul’s message is consistent with its post-2021 stance — favoring sovereignty and diplomacy over military partnerships. If any future ties with Washington are to emerge, they will likely be shaped by economics, not air bases.
