Taliban to Trump: Bagram is Afghanistan’s Red Line

DID Press: Following controversial remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about reclaiming Bagram Air Base, Taliban caretaker government issued a firm response, declaring that it will never allow the base—or any part of Afghanistan territory—to fall under foreign control. Trump’s statements have raised concerns over the potential for renewed foreign intervention in Afghanistan.

Trump, speaking to U.S. media, claimed that Bagram’s strategic location near China makes it critically important, and called the U.S. departure from the base a major mistake. He emphasized the need to regain control, citing Washington’s security and geopolitical interests.

The Taliban’s reaction, however, was strong and unequivocal. Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the caretaker government’s Interior Ministry, described Trump’s remarks as “full of hatred and ambition,” and stressed: “We will never allow Bagram or any part of Afghanistan soil to be occupied again by foreign powers.” “The base is now fully under the control of the Afghan government, and no scenario exists for handing it over to the U.S. or any other country,” he added.

Qani warned that Afghanistan nation stands united and ready to resist any external threat, citing past experiences of successfully resisting occupiers.

Bagram Air Base, one of the key U.S. military operational hubs before the 2021 withdrawal, remains entirely under Taliban caretaker government control.

Internationally, China expressed concern over Trump’s statements, emphasizing regional stability and respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, and called any U.S. military return a destabilizing act. Pakistan has maintained a neutral stance, refraining from direct comment on the issue.

Analysts note that Trump’s remarks and the Taliban’s response underscore Afghanistan’s ongoing geopolitical complexity and the region’s sensitivity to any foreign military presence, keeping the country’s path to stability highly challenging.