Web Desk; An Afghan Taliban official on Sunday firmly rejected the possibility of any deal with the United States over Bagram air base, after former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly demanded that the facility be returned to American control.
The controversy erupted when Trump, during his visit to the United Kingdom last week, floated the idea of Washington regaining Bagram, once the largest American military installation in Afghanistan. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump stopped short of explicitly confirming whether he would deploy troops to seize the base but warned that consequences would follow if Kabul refused to hand it over.
“We’re talking now to Afghanistan and we want it back — and we want it back soon, right away,” Trump said. “If they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m gonna do.” Later, in a post on his Truth Social platform, the 79-year-old former president escalated his warning: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!”
Trump, known for his long-standing fascination with acquiring strategic assets such as the Panama Canal or even Greenland, has repeatedly cited Bagram as a location of key importance to American power projection.
Responding to the remarks, Fasihuddin Fitrat, chief of staff at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, dismissed the notion of any such deal. Speaking to local media, he said: “Recently, some people have claimed they are negotiating with Afghanistan to take back Bagram air base. A deal over even an inch of Afghanistan’s soil is not possible. We don’t need it.”
The Taliban government also issued a formal statement underscoring that Afghanistan’s independence and sovereignty were non-negotiable. “In accordance with Islamic principles and a balanced, economy-oriented foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate seeks constructive relations with all countries on the basis of mutual interests,” the statement said.
It further reminded Washington of the 2020 Doha Agreement, under which the U.S. pledged not to use or threaten force against Afghanistan’s territorial integrity or interfere in its internal affairs. “It is necessary they remain faithful to their commitments,” the statement added, calling on the U.S. to adopt “a policy of realism and rationality” rather than “repeating past failed approaches.”
Bagram served as the central hub of U.S. and NATO operations during the 20-year war in Afghanistan. The base played a pivotal role in logistics, air power, and intelligence throughout the conflict, which began after the September 11, 2001 attacks. In July 2021, American and allied forces abruptly withdrew from the installation as part of a Trump-brokered deal with the Taliban. The Afghan military collapsed just weeks later, paving the way for the Taliban’s return to power.
Security analysts caution that any attempt by Washington to reoccupy Bagram would likely resemble a full-scale re-invasion, requiring at least 10,000 troops, advanced air defence systems, and extensive logistical support.
Even if the Taliban agreed to some arrangement — an unlikely scenario — the base would face threats from Islamic State militants, remnants of Al Qaeda, and even possible missile attacks from Iran, which recently demonstrated its ability to strike U.S. military installations in the region.
The firm rejection by Kabul signals that the idea of Washington reclaiming Bagram is not only diplomatically unfeasible but also militarily risky. For now, Afghanistan’s rulers insist the chapter of U.S. control over Bagram is permanently closed.
