Taliban’s Stance on Bagram Base and U.S. Relations

A senior member of the Taliban announced that efforts are underway to reclaim the Bagram military base in Afghanistan, firmly rejecting the idea of any new U.S. military presence in the country.

These remarks were shared on social media by Zakir Jalali, serving as the second Politician Director of the Foreign Ministry. He used diplomatic language to express the Taliban’s willingness for “further involvement” with the United States. This rejection seemed to follow months of attempts by the Taliban to mend ties with the U.S. government, including welcoming a delegation from the Trump administration in Kabul just last weekend.

“Afghans have never accepted military presence throughout history, and this possibility has been completely ruled out between Doha negotiations and the agreement,” Jalali stated, as reported by Pajhwok. “But the doors for further engagement remain open.”

During a visit to the UK, President Trump mentioned that his administration is looking into regaining American control of Bagram, a critical air base from the two-decade-long conflict. He pointed out the base’s strategic location concerning potential conflicts, particularly with China, while refraining from labeling the Taliban as a threat.

“By the way, we’re trying to get it back. It could be a bit of a broken news. They’re trying to get it back because they need things from us. But one of the reasons we want a base is, you know, that’s an hour away from where China makes nuclear weapons. So a lot of things are happening,” Trump remarked.

An anonymous U.S. official, according to Reuters, noted that maintaining a presence at Bagram could involve deploying up to 10,000 American troops for protection and upkeep. Trump’s comments suggest that the process of re-establishing control over American bases is at an early stage, likely requiring discussions with the Taliban.

The Taliban had recently welcomed a U.S. delegation to Kabul, although the meeting didn’t officially pertain to Bagram. A Taliban-friendly news outlet reported that senior economic leaders had discussions with the U.S. envoy, Adam Bohler, who was involved with U.S. hostage negotiations, alongside Zalmei Khalilzad, a long-time representative of Afghanistan. The Taliban media indicated that this was an opportunity for discussions about American investments in their economy.

“Honor Mura Abdul Ghani Baladar Akhand, the Deputy Vice-Chair of Economics, calls for a shift in the U.S. delegation from conflict to cooperation with Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of rebuilding and investing in various sectors,” they noted.

In response to Trump’s Bagram comments, Jalali mentioned that the Taliban is keen on improving relations with the U.S. “After the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, there are no serious obstacles that cannot be resolved in bilateral relations,” he indicated. “The presence of the U.S. delegation in Kabul suggests a more serious phase in ongoing negotiations.”

Jalali also drew a comparison between Afghanistan and Vietnam, suggesting that just as the U.S. has established a relationship with Vietnam post-conflict, a similar outcome might be possible with the Taliban.

“When comparing the relationship between Vietnam and the U.S. after the U.S. withdrawal from Saigon with the current Kabul-Washington relationship, Kabul and Washington are in a better position,” he asserted.

Nonetheless, the Taliban leadership maintains that any cooperation requiring U.S. troops on Afghan soil is off the table. Defense Minister Maurawi Mohammad Yakub Mujahid confirmed that discussions with the U.S. and other Western nations are ongoing but clarified that none involve military aspects.

“So far, there has been no military ties with NATO or the U.S. No progress has been made in this regard,” Mujahid stated. “Our relationship with the U.S. is focused on political and economic matters and is aimed at lifting sanctions imposed on Afghanistan.”

Bagram served as a crucial military facility for American forces during the Afghan conflict. Following President Biden’s decision to break the Trump-era Doha Accord, the Taliban overthrew the U.S.-supported Afghan government. Biden’s troop withdrawal essentially left Bagram in the hands of terrorists, one of whom later carried out a suicide bombing that caused significant casualties.

Beyond the Taliban seizing millions in American equipment from Bagram, looters have also taken advantage of the site. Reports from August 2021 indicated that stolen civilian items, like stereo systems and guitars, were being sold for profit.

The Taliban even held a “victory” celebration at Bagram to mark the third anniversary of the prior Afghan government’s collapse, showcasing American equipment in the process.

In contrast, there hasn’t been a similar display during Trump’s second term as president.