President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that his administration is aiming to reclaim the former US Bagram Airfield from the Taliban in Afghanistan.
While addressing the media alongside British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer, Trump criticized the US’s approach to Afghanistan under President Joe Biden, mentioning that there was “a little broken news.” “We’re trying to get it back,” he emphasized. “They need things from us, so we’re trying to get it back.”
Three years after the chaotic withdrawal of American troops, the Taliban is showcasing its power in Afghanistan.
Trump did not elaborate on his comments regarding the Taliban, the group that took control of Afghanistan in 2021. He added, “We want to get that base back, and one of the reasons is, as you know, China is just an hour away from where it makes nuclear weapons.”
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries about the president’s remarks.
In March, Adam Borler, a US envoy, met with Taliban representatives at Kabul International Airport to facilitate the release of a hostage.
This marked the first in-person engagement between the US government and the Taliban since the fall of Kabul in 2021. Sources indicate that the Taliban is seeking to normalize relations with the US after facing isolation over human rights concerns.
Borler, along with Zarmei Khalilzad, another US envoy, discussed issues pertaining to bilateral relations with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki, including the welfare of citizens and potential investment opportunities in Afghanistan.
The withdrawal of US troops began during Trump’s presidency in March 2020, with the Taliban gaining ground in the year leading up to the final withdrawal in August 2021. Under an agreement brokered by Trump, the US had planned to withdraw all troops by May 1, 2021, but Biden later postponed the date to August 2021.
