The Taliban rejected Donald Trump‘s call for the U.S. to retake Bagram Air Base, abandoned in 2021, according to the Associated Press.
Speaking on Saturday, Trump stated that the U.S. should seek to regain control of Bagram Air Base, emphasizing its strategic importance. He suggested, without offering details, that efforts or discussions could be underway to regain control of the base, possibly involving the Taliban. On Sunday, however, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the idea, urging the U.S. to respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty and commitments made under the 2020 Doha Agreement, the AP reported.
Taliban defense officials backed up this position. Chief of Staff Fasihuddin Fitrat said it was impossible to give up any Afghan territory. The group, which has a long history of military confrontations with U.S. forces, took over Afghanistan in August 2021, when the last Western soldiers left the country and Afghan forces previously supported by the U.S. were dismantled.
Even though there are no formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Taliban, they remain in contact on prisoner and hostage issues.
