Taliban: Bagram Not Be Handed Over to Anyone

DID Press: A former Taliban diplomat responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about reclaiming Bagram Air Base, emphasizing that Afghanistan will maintain its historical neutrality.

Abdul Salam Zaeef, former Taliban ambassador to Islamabad, stressed that Afghanistan will not deviate from its path of independence and historical neutrality, noting that no power has ever brought the country under military or political control.

“Afghan history shows that no foreign force has succeeded in diverting the country from its unilateral independence. Afghanistan remained neutral during World War I and II, and will do so if a third world war occurs. This historical experience has been repeated many times, with clear results,” Zaeef posted.

He criticized U.S. efforts to exploit the region geopolitically, claiming that Washington seeks to create conditions for conflict in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan to counter China, Russia, and Iran through military and intelligence presence. “America’s expectations from Afghanistan are unrealistic and futile,” he added.

Separately, Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the caretaker government’s Interior Ministry, described Trump’s statements as “full of hatred” and reaffirmed: “We will never hand over Bagram to anyone.”

Zaker Jalali, third-ranking political official at the Taliban Foreign Ministry, also emphasized that relations with the United States are possible only with mutual respect and shared interests, and that any foreign military presence in Afghanistan territory is unacceptable under any circumstances.