‘Not possible’: Taliban rejects Trump’s demand to return Bagram Air Base, warns of ‘strongest response’

US President Donald Trump’s demand to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan was firmly rejected by the Taliban, who said a deal is “not possible” and warned that any hostility would trigger the “strongest” response.

“Afghanistan is fully independent, governed by its own people, and not dependent on any foreign power,” Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Fasihuddin Fitrat said on Sunday in Kabul, Bloomberg reported. “We do not fear any bully or aggressor.”

He added, “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.”

Trump’s warning to Afghanistan

Trump had earlier threatened Afghanistan with “bad things” if it refused to return the base, which was the largest US military facility in the country before the Taliban regained control in July 2021. On Truth Social, he wrote: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.”

The former president has repeatedly criticised his predecessor over the withdrawal, claiming it left US weapons and other military assets in Taliban hands. The airbase lies about 64km (40 miles) north of Kabul.

About Bagram Air Base

Bagram Air Base was the central hub of US military operations in Afghanistan after the Taliban were ousted following the 9/11 attacks. US and NATO forces withdrew from the base in July 2021 under a Trump-era agreement, implemented during the Biden administration.

During US control, thousands were imprisoned at Bagram without charge or trial as part of the “war on terror”. The base featured long runways, hardened shelters, hospitals, fuel depots, and a large prison complex. It also offered amenities such as Burger King and Pizza Hut for US troops, alongside shops selling electronics and Afghan rugs.

Strategic importance

Strategically located at the crossroads of Iran, Pakistan, China’s Xinjiang region, and Central Asia, Bagram gives potential US influence over the region, including monitoring Russian and Chinese activities, according to the Economic Times.

Trump vows to regain control

During a recent visit to the UK, Trump said the US was working to regain control of the base. “We’re trying to get it back, by the way, that could be a little breaking news. We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us,” he told reporters at a news conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.