Afghan FM Amir Khan Muttaqi on Trump’s Bid take Take Bagram Airbase Not Even a Meter of Afghanistan’s Land will be Given to The Americans
The Taliban government issued a firm and unequivocal response on Sunday to former US President Donald Trump’s recent statements about retaking the Bagram air base, declaring that any such deal is “not possible” and warning that hostility would be met with their “strongest” response.
The rebuttal came from the highest levels of the Taliban leadership. Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, stated emphatically that Afghanistan is a fully independent nation that does not need to make deals over its territory. His comments were echoed by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, who asserted that “not even one metre of Afghan land will be given to Americans.”
The statements were delivered at an event in Kabul. “We do not fear any bully or aggressor,” Fitrat said, directly addressing the speculation. “Recently, some people have said that they have entered negotiations with Afghanistan for taking back Bagram Air base. A deal over even an inch of Afghanistan’s soil is not possible. We don’t need it.”
This strong pushback follows comments made by Trump during a press conference in the UK, where he suggested that efforts were underway to regain control of the strategic Bagram Airbase, which the US vacated following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. Trump framed the potential move as major news, justifying it by claiming the base is crucial due to its proximity to China. He concluded with a warning: “if Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.”
This is not the first time Trump has made such a claim. In a speech to US troops in Qatar earlier this year, he insisted the US would keep the base because it is “one hour away from China,” a claim the Taliban had denied at the time, refuting any Chinese presence there.
The Strategic Significance of Bagram
Bagram Airbase, located approximately 60 kilometers north of Kabul in Parwan province, is Afghanistan’s largest airfield with a complex history. Originally built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, it was a key asset during the Soviet-Afghan war.
After being abandoned in the 1990s, it was severely damaged during the civil war. The US and its allies took control of the base following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, using it as a central hub for operations for the next two decades. Its status became a focal point of the 2020 Doha Agreement, which led to the full withdrawal of international forces by May 2021, paving the way for the Taliban’s return to power.