- Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan have jointly opposed re-establishment of foreign military bases at UNGA sidelines
- Kabul rejects Trump’s push to regain Bagram, reiterates commitment to sovereignty and non-interference.
KABUL/ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Sunday welcomed the joint stance of Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan against the establishment of foreign military bases in the war-torn country, calling it a significant step toward safeguarding regional peace and stability.
The four countries had reaffirmed their position in a joint statement issued after their foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York earlier this week. Stressing the need to respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, they asserted that the re-establishment of foreign military bases on Afghan soil would be “not conducive to regional peace and security.”
Deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, Hamdullah Fitrat, said Kabul welcomed the position of the regional powers, underscoring that “Afghanistan will not allow its territory to be used against other countries, nor permit armed groups to operate from its soil.”
Though the joint statement avoided naming any specific country, it came in the wake of remarks by US President Donald Trump, who revealed that Washington was attempting to regain control of the Bagram air base in Afghanistan. Once the epicenter of US-led military operations during the two-decade war, Bagram was vacated in July 2021 following the complete withdrawal of American and NATO troops.
Trump, speaking earlier in the UK, had threatened Afghanistan with “unspecified consequences” if Kabul resisted US efforts to retake the facility. The Taliban authorities rejected the demand outright, maintaining that Afghanistan’s sovereignty was non-negotiable.
Concerns over terrorism
In their statement, Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan also pressed the Taliban administration to take “effective, concrete and verifiable actions” to honor international obligations in fighting terrorism. The four nations urged Kabul to dismantle terrorist training camps and infrastructure, and to prevent militant groups from fundraising, acquiring weapons, or collaborating with foreign fighters.
The joint communiqué expressed “deep concern” about terrorist organisations still based in Afghanistan. These included ISIL (Daesh), Al Qaeda, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul Adl, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade. It warned that their continued presence posed a “serious threat to regional and global security.”
The statement added that strengthening Afghanistan’s stability and countering the threats of terrorism, radicalism and narcotics crime from its territory aligned with the “common interests” of the four regional powers.
Responding, Fitrat dismissed concerns about Afghanistan being a source of instability as “baseless.” He said the Taliban government was taking serious measures against corruption, narcotics and “all undesirable issues,” adding: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants to establish positive relations with all countries on the basis of mutual respect.”
He stressed that Kabul’s foreign policy was “based on mutual trust, positive contacts and promotion of friendly relations,” rejecting what he described as “false concerns or baseless allegations” against the country.
JI delegation meets Afghan FM
In a related development, a delegation of Pakistan’s Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) called on Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul. The delegation was led by JI Deputy Ameer Professor Muhammad Ibrahim and included Dr Attaur Rehman (Deputy Ameer, Balochistan), Inayatullah Khan (Ameer KP North), Abdul Wasi (Ameer KP Central), and Dr Muhammad Iqbal Khalil.
د ا.ا.ا. د بهرنيو چارو وزير محترم مولوي امير خان متقي د محترم پروفيسور محمد ابراهيم په مشرۍ د جماعت اسلامي پاکستان له پلاوي سره وکتل.
د هېواد د بهرنيو چارو وزير د افغانستان او پاکستان ترمنځ په گڼو کچو د پلاوو تگ راتگ مهم وباله او د دواړو هېوادونو ترمنځ يې مثبتې اړيکې د دواړو… pic.twitter.com/El3bR8DD5t— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Afghanistan (@MoFA_Afg) September 27, 2025
A JI statement said discussions focused on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, while Muttaqi also confirmed the meeting in a post on X (formerly Twitter). According to a translation of his post, both sides discussed avenues for strengthening bilateral ties.
By aligning themselves with the regional consensus against foreign bases, the Taliban leadership has sought to reinforce its claim of defending Afghan sovereignty, while simultaneously dismissing accusations of harboring transnational terrorist groups. The development also underscores the increasingly complex geopolitical contest over Afghanistan’s future, with regional powers pushing for stability on their terms, even as Washington signals fresh interest in a return to the country.
