On Sunday (September 21), the Taliban firmly refused the offer of US President Donald Trump to restore the presence at the Bagram air base, almost four years after the American chaotic withdrawal left a large military facility in the hands of the Taliban.
Trump renewed his call on Saturday and said, “We want it back and we want it right back. If they don’t, you’ll find out what I’m going to do.” He refused to provide details of discussions with the Afghan authorities and avoided answering questions about whether US troops would be deployed to repeat the base and say to reporters, “We won’t talk about that.”
Taliban emphasizes sovereignty
The main spokesman of the Taliban Zabihullah Mujahid replied to Trump’s notes and urged Washington to accept the policy of “realism and rationality”. He emphasized the Afghan commitment of constructive foreign relations and at the same time protected its independence.
Mujahid published on X: “It should be remembered that the United States has promised, according to the agreement from Doho, that” they do not use or threaten the strength against territorial integrity or political independence, or interfere with its internal affairs. “
He added that the US must remain faithful to these obligations.
Afghan officials reject any territorial concessions
Fasihuddin Fitrat, head of the Ministry of Defense, dealt with Trump’s comments and reaffirmed Afghan sovereignty: “The assignment even the thumb of our land is excluded and impossible,” he said during his speech broadcast by Afghan media.
Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover in Bagram last August with a large military display, which showed abandoned American hardware, a reminder of the US controversial withdrawal, which Trump repeatedly criticized for “gross incompetence”.
Trump indicates the cooperation of the Taliban
During his recent state visit to the United Kingdom, Trump suggested that Taliban, faced with economic struggles, internal cracks and legitimacy challenges from their return to power in 2021, could be open to allow the US military back.
“We are trying to get it back because they need things from us,” Trump said.
Although there are no formal diplomatic ties between the US and the Taliban, both sides have been involved in the hostage discussions. Last March he released an American tourist Taliban who was kidnapped more than two years before.
Prisoner to replace signals possible conversations
The Taliban also announced an agreement with US ambassadors for the exchange of detained as part of a wider normalization effort, although the details of the swap have not been published. Photographs published by the Taliban show their Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, a meeting with a special ambassador of Trump for his reaction to the hostage, Adam Boehler.
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