The Taliban reject the return of the US to the Bagram base

The United States wants to return to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump said Thursday during a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He justified this with the strategic location of the base near China.

The historic Soviet airfield was the headquarters of the American forces in Afghanistan after the attacks of September 11, 2001, until the US withdrawal in 2021, before the Islamist Taliban movement took power.

However, Afghanistan ruled out any negotiations on the return of the Americans. “Afghanistan and the United States must work together … without the US maintaining a military presence in any part of Afghanistan,” Zakir Jalal, a representative of the Afghan Foreign Ministry, said on Platform X.

In his view, both countries could focus on economic and political relations based on mutual respect and common interests.

Meanwhile, US officials are negotiating with the Taliban for the release of US citizens detained in Afghanistan. Washington does not officially recognize the Taliban government.

(reuters, est)