The Taliban government has dismissed the prospect of allowing the United States to reestablish a military presence in Afghanistan, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about seeking control of the Bagram air base once again.
Speaking at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, Trump said Washington was considering efforts to regain control of Bagram, calling it a “strategic location, very close to China.”
Bagram, a Soviet-built airfield, served as the U.S. military’s main hub in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks. However, American forces withdrew in 2021, and shortly thereafter the Taliban seized control of the country.
In response, Zakir Jalal, an official with the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, stated that Afghanistan sees no need for a U.S. military presence. Writing on X, Jalal said relations between Kabul and Washington “can be based on mutual respect and shared interests,” but stressed that “Afghanistan does not need any U.S. military bases.”
Meanwhile, U.S. officials continue talks with the Taliban regarding the release of American citizens currently detained in Afghanistan under disputed circumstances.
Source: Reuters