KEY POINTS
- Taliban says Afghanistan’s sovereignty is “non-negotiable. ”
- Spokesman says Afghanistan “will never allow its land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances.”
- Trump recently urged the Taliban to “give back” Bagram, describing it as strategically close to China.
- The Taliban confirms limited talks with US officials on reopening embassies in Kabul and Washington.
- Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan jointly opposed any foreign military bases in Afghanistan.
- Bagram served as the main US and NATO hub until American troops withdrew in 2021.
KABUL, Afghanistan: The Taliban government has ruled out any possibility of handing over Afghanistan’s Bagram air base to the United States, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s calls to “take back” the facility. The Taliban reiterated that Afghanistan’s sovereignty is “non-negotiable”.
In an interview with Sky News, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan “will never allow its land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances”.
Mujahid’s remarks came after Trump publicly urged the Taliban to “give back” the Bagram air base, which served for two decades as the main hub of US and NATO military operations in Afghanistan.
‘Afghanistan’s territory not for sale’
The Taliban spokesman stressed that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) — the name used by the Taliban government — considers foreign military control over any part of its territory unacceptable.
“Afghans have fought for their independence for more than 40 years. No one will ever again be allowed to occupy even one metre of our soil,” Mujahid said.
The spokesman confirmed that Taliban officials have held talks with US representatives about reopening diplomatic missions in Kabul and Washington, signalling limited engagement despite political isolation. “We have discussed this matter and wish to see both embassies reopened,” Mujahid added.
Trump’s push for Bagram control
At a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on 18 September, Trump said that Washington was “trying to get [Bagram] back,” describing the base as “an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”
He later posted on Truth Social, 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!!!”
Analysts say Trump’s comments reflect growing US anxiety about China’s growing regional influence. Bagram lies roughly 800 kilometres from China’s western border and remains one of the few large airfields in the region capable of hosting heavy military aircraft.
Regional powers oppose Trump’s stance
On 26 September, Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan issued a joint statement opposing the re-establishment of foreign military bases in Afghanistan.
The statement, released after a ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, emphasised respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning that foreign bases would be “not conducive to regional peace and security.”
The Taliban welcomed the declaration, with deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat saying Afghanistan “will not allow its territory to be used against other countries, nor permit armed groups to operate from its soil.”
History of Bagram base
Located 50 kilometres north of Kabul, Bagram Air Base has been a focal point of foreign military campaigns in Afghanistan for more than half a century. Originally built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, it was seized by the United States following the 2001 invasion and transformed into the epicentre of its operations during the “war on terror.”
At its peak, the sprawling complex hosted more than 10,000 personnel, including US and NATO troops, according to Al Jazeera. It also housed a detention facility notorious for allegations of abuse. The last American forces vacated the base in July 2021, weeks before the Taliban’s return to power.
Security analyst Hekmatullah Azamy of the Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS), cited by Al Jazeera, said Bagram’s value remains “strategic rather than operational.”
“Control of Bagram would give any power significant regional leverage, but for the Taliban, ceding it would destroy their credibility,” he said.
