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According to top intelligence sources, a US comeback in Bagram would have profound geopolitical implications
President Trump, in a striking revelation, linked the base’s strategic value directly to China’s nuclear programme. File pic
In a significant policy shift, United States President Donald Trump has expressed his determination to see the US regain control of Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base, which was abandoned during the 2021 troop withdrawal. Trump stated, “We’re trying to get it back,” arguing that the US cannot afford to leave such a critical asset in the hands of the Taliban or any other power.
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The primary motivation for this strategic push, according to a top source, is a growing fear of China’s expanding influence in the region. President Trump, in a striking revelation, linked the base’s strategic value directly to China’s nuclear programme. “One of the reasons we want the base, as you know, is it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” he said, suggesting that a US presence at Bagram would serve as a powerful check on Beijing’s regional ambitions. The Bagram Air Base, which served as the linchpin for US operations during its two-decade war in Afghanistan, was the largest foreign military facility in the country, from which air strikes and resupply missions were conducted.
According to top intelligence sources, a US comeback in Bagram would have profound geopolitical implications. It would directly threaten China’s “Belt and Road” projects and nuclear facilities near Xinjiang, placing Beijing on high alert. The move would also significantly undermine Pakistan’s leverage over the Taliban regime. Islamabad, which had celebrated the American withdrawal as a strategic victory, would see its monopoly over the Taliban’s leadership and its bargaining power in Afghanistan diluted. This would catch Pakistan, a key ally of China, in a difficult crossfire, leaving it unable to overtly obstruct a US re-entry for fear of inviting punitive measures such as FATF-type pressures.
The return of a United States military presence would also create immense stress for the Taliban, forcing them to balance their relationships with competing global powers—China, Pakistan, Russia, and Iran—while now facing potential US demands. This complex balancing act could create space for rival factions and the expansion of groups like ISIS-K. Ultimately, the potential re-establishment of Bagram as a US military hub would not only symbolise a reversal of the 2021 withdrawal but also usher in a new, more complicated era of geopolitical manoeuvring in Central and South Asia.
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
September 19, 2025, 01:47 IST
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