An Afghan defense official rejected calls from former U.S. President Donald Trump to return Bagram Air Base, stating that any such deal was “not possible.” This comes after Trump suggested the U.S. might impose consequences if Afghanistan does not hand back control of the base, which American troops left four years ago.
Bagram, once the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan, played a pivotal role during the 20-year war against the Taliban. After the U.S. military’s chaotic withdrawal in 2021 under President Joe Biden, the base was abandoned, marking a significant chapter in the U.S. military’s presence in the country. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, warned Afghanistan that “BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!” if the U.S. does not regain access to the base.
Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Chief of Staff of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, responded by asserting that “some people” were trying to negotiate the return of Bagram, but made it clear that any deal involving the base was not on the table. “A deal over even an inch of Afghanistan’s soil is not possible. We don’t need it,” Fitrat said in a broadcast interview.
Later, the Afghan government issued a statement reaffirming the country’s commitment to its sovereignty, emphasizing that the “independence and territorial integrity” of Afghanistan were non-negotiable.
Trump has previously expressed frustration over the loss of Bagram, citing its strategic location near China. While on a recent visit to Britain, he publicly raised the prospect of the U.S. reclaiming the base.
The U.S. and NATO forces’ pullout from Bagram in July 2021, as part of a deal brokered by Trump with the Taliban in 2020, led to the rapid collapse of the Afghan military and the Taliban’s swift return to power.
During a press briefing at the White House, Trump was asked whether he was considering sending U.S. troops to retake Bagram, to which he responded cryptically, “We won’t talk about that, but we’re talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back… and if they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do.”
Bagram, a sprawling facility, was notorious for human rights abuses during the U.S. military’s presence, particularly in relation to detainee treatment during the “War on Terror.” Originally built in the 1950s with Soviet assistance, it was later expanded by the U.S. during the Cold War and further developed during the Soviet occupation. By 2010, it had grown into a fully-equipped base resembling a small town, complete with shops, restaurants, and even fast-food chains like Dairy Queen and Burger King. U.S. Presidents, including Barack Obama and Donald Trump, visited the base during their respective terms.
