Taliban defies Trump: No handover of Bagram, no foreign presence
5 Min Read
The Taliban government has rejected Trump's threat to retake Bagram Air Base, stressing Afghanistan’s sovereignty and commitment to the Doha Agreement.
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UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters fly during a military parade to mark the third anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops from Afghanistan, in Bagram Air Base in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 (AP)
The Taliban government on Sunday rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington could retake Bagram Air Base, four years after the chaotic US withdrawal left the facility in Taliban hands.
Trump had issued a direct threat to Afghanistan, warning that “bad things are going to happen” if the country does not return Bagram to Washington.
“If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
While it remains unclear what discussions, if any, have taken place between the US and Afghan officials regarding a return, Trump hinted that the Taliban, as it faces an economic crisis, internal divisions, and pressure from rival militant groups, might be open to allowing American forces back into the country.
Taliban reaffirms sovereignty, Doha Agreement
The Taliban’s chief spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, firmly dismissed Trump’s threats, calling on the US to adopt a policy of “realism and rationality.” In a post on X, Mujahid reiterated that Afghanistan maintains an economy-centered foreign policy and seeks constructive ties based on mutual interests.
He emphasized that the issue of Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity had been consistently raised in all bilateral negotiations with the United States.
“It should be recalled that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States pledged that ‘it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs,’” Mujahid stated, emphasizing that Washington must uphold its obligations under the agreement.
د امریکا د جمهور رئیس د وروستیو څرګندونو په اړه د اسلامي امارت اعلامیه
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) September 21, 2025
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
د افغانستان اسلامي امارت د شرعي اصولو په رڼا کې د خپل متوازن او اقتصاد محوره بهرني سیاست له مخې له ټولو هېوادونو سره د دوه اړخیزو او مشترکو ګټو په اساس مثبتې اړیکې غواړي. https://t.co/sCE5SmF7dC
In the same context, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister stated: “Even if the United States recognized our government and pledged to rebuild all of Afghanistan, we would never cede an inch of our country for their military presence.”
Chief of Staff warns of 'strong response'
In a forceful response to remarks by former US President Donald Trump, Afghanistan’s top military and diplomatic officials issued statements this week rejecting foreign occupation and insisting that the country will not concede any territory for the sake of a foreign military presence.
Afghan Army Chief of Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat (responding to Trump) said: “Some governments accepted foreign occupation to protect themselves, but we believe in God Almighty; we do not need anyone, and we are not afraid of anyone. The Afghan people do not fear any unbeliever; relying on God, they have proven this in 20 years of jihad. We will not give one inch of Afghanistan.”
The Chief of Staff Qari affirmed that "any agreement concerning Bagram Air Base, even one inch of it, is unacceptable and will not be negotiated," warning that any hostile action would be met with a “stronger response.”
Speaking at a televised event in Kabul on Sunday, Fitrat stated that Afghanistan is “fully independent, governed by its people, and does not rely on any foreign power.”
“We are not afraid of any bully or aggressor,” he added.
Failed experiments should not be repeated
In a related statement, Afghan Deputy Spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat emphasized that Afghanistan’s independence and sovereignty remain top priorities, points that have been reportedly consistently clarified to the United States in all rounds of bilateral dialogue.
In a post on X, Fitrat reminded Washington that the Doha Agreement clearly obliges the US “not to use or threaten force against Afghanistan’s territorial integrity or political independence, and not to interfere in its internal affairs.”
He warned that repeating “past failed experiments would benefit no one,” and added that the most effective path forward lies in adopting a “rational and realistic approach based on mutual respect.”
Fitrat also stated that Afghanistan seeks “positive relations with all countries based on mutual and shared interests,” stemming from its balanced and economy-driven foreign policy.
Statement of the Islamic Emirate Regarding the Recent Declarations by the President of the United States
— Hamdullah Fitratحمدالله فطرت (@FitratHamd) September 21, 2025
September 21, 2025
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
In accordance with Islamic principles and grounded in its balanced, economy-oriented…
Taliban takeover at Bagram
Bagram Air Base, located just north of Kabul, served as the largest hub for US forces during the two-decade war on Afghanistan. It was critical for air operations, logistics, and counterterrorism campaigns.
The United States fully withdrew from Bagram in August 2021 during the chaotic end of its military presence in Afghanistan under former US President Joe Biden. Trump has repeatedly criticized the withdrawal, calling it a “disaster” and insisting that Bagram should never have been relinquished.
His renewed push to reclaim the facility comes amid wider US efforts to expand or reactivate overseas bases, particularly in Asia. Analysts say that any attempt to retake or control Bagram would require extensive military resources, including the redeployment of up to 10,000 troops, and risk drawing Washington into direct confrontation in a country where it has already fought an extensive and costly war.
In August 2024, the Taliban marked the third anniversary of its takeover at Bagram with a large-scale military display featuring abandoned American military equipment. The display caught the attention of the White House amid ongoing debates in the US over the legacy of the withdrawal.
Read more: Afghan deputy PM urges international recognition of Taliban-led gov.
