Will the US military return to Afghanistan? Trump doesn't rule it out, Taliban comment

During a Thursday press conference concluding his visit to the UK, President Donald Trump suggested the return of the US military to Bagram, the former US air base in Afghanistan, the AP reported on Friday. The US withdrew from Bagram four years ago.

Trump linked the issue of returning to Afghanistan to the need to counter China's moves.

“We’re trying to get her back,” the American president said. He didn’t provide any details.

The AP noted that Trump had previously mentioned an American return to Afghanistan. Since the election campaign, he has criticized former President Joe Biden for the chaotic troop withdrawal and the dramatic final hours of the U.S. presence in Kabul – even though he negotiated an agreement with the Taliban during his first term. Trump also claimed that this emboldened Vladimir Putin, who had lost respect for the United States, to attack Ukraine.

Trump insists that while the US was supposed to withdraw from Afghanistan, it was supposed to do so with dignity and strength. "We were supposed to keep Bagram Air Base, one of the largest in the world. We gave it up for nothing," he told reporters on his flight back to the US. "It's one of the most powerful bases in the world in terms of strength and runway length. You can land anything there. You can land a planet there."

It's unclear whether the United States is in any new, direct or indirect, talks with the Taliban government about returning to Afghanistan, the AP noted. However, Trump suggested that the Taliban, which has been struggling with an economic crisis, loss of international legitimacy, internal disunity, and rival militant groups since returning to power in 2021, might be willing to allow the U.S. military back. "We're trying to get them back because they need something from us," Trump said of the Taliban.

The president reiterated that the U.S. presence at Bagram is valuable because of its proximity to China, the United States' largest economic and military competitor. "One of the reasons we're interested in this base is, as you know, it's an hour from where China is producing nuclear weapons," Trump said. "There's a lot going on," he added.

On Thursday evening, Zakir Jalalay, head of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on the social media platform X that Afghanistan and the US must cooperate and can maintain economic and political relations based on mutual respect and shared interests. "Afghans have never accepted a (foreign) military presence in history, and (this scenario) was completely rejected during the talks and the Doha agreement, but the door to further interaction is open," Jalalay said.

Although the U.S. and the Taliban do not have formal diplomatic relations, the sides have held talks about the hostages. An American who was kidnapped more than two years ago while traveling in Afghanistan as a tourist was released by the Taliban in March.

Last week, the Taliban also announced that they had reached an agreement with US envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of efforts to normalize relations between the United States and Afghanistan. (PAP)

os/ mal/

The Taliban ruling in Afghanistan have ruled out the possibility of Americans returning to Bagram Military Base, a move previously suggested by US President Donald Trump.

Zakir Jalalay of the Afghan Foreign Ministry ruled out the possibility of the Americans returning in a post on the X portal. He added, however, that the Taliban is ready to engage in talks with the Trump administration on economic and political issues.

During a press conference on Thursday at the end of his visit to the UK, President Trump suggested the return of the US military to Bagram, the former US air base in Afghanistan.

Trump linked the issue of returning to Afghanistan to the need to counter China's moves.

"We are trying to retake (the base)," the American leader said. He did not provide any details.

Bagram Base, the largest in the country, was taken over by the Taliban in 2021 during the chaotic American retreat from Afghanistan.

The US president has repeatedly said the base should remain under Washington's control. He has also suggested that the Chinese military is present there. However, Beijing and the Taliban have denied this. (PAP)

mobr/ szm/

During a Thursday press conference concluding his visit to the UK, President Donald Trump suggested the return of the US military to Bagram, the former US air base in Afghanistan, the AP reported on Friday. The US withdrew from Bagram four years ago.

Trump linked the issue of returning to Afghanistan to the need to counter China's moves.

“We’re trying to get her back,” the American president said. He didn’t provide any details.

The AP noted that Trump had previously mentioned an American return to Afghanistan. Since the election campaign, he has criticized former President Joe Biden for the chaotic troop withdrawal and the dramatic final hours of the U.S. presence in Kabul – even though he negotiated an agreement with the Taliban during his first term. Trump also claimed that this emboldened Vladimir Putin, who had lost respect for the United States, to attack Ukraine.

Trump insists that while the US was supposed to withdraw from Afghanistan, it was supposed to do so with dignity and strength. "We were supposed to keep Bagram Air Base, one of the largest in the world. We gave it up for nothing," he told reporters on his flight back to the US. "It's one of the most powerful bases in the world in terms of strength and runway length. You can land anything there. You can land a planet there."

It's unclear whether the United States is in any new, direct or indirect, talks with the Taliban government about returning to Afghanistan, the AP noted. However, Trump suggested that the Taliban, which has been struggling with an economic crisis, loss of international legitimacy, internal disunity, and rival militant groups since returning to power in 2021, might be willing to allow the U.S. military back. "We're trying to get them back because they need something from us," Trump said of the Taliban.

The president reiterated that the U.S. presence at Bagram is valuable because of its proximity to China, the United States' largest economic and military competitor. "One of the reasons we're interested in this base is, as you know, it's an hour from where China is producing nuclear weapons," Trump said. "There's a lot going on," he added.

On Thursday evening, Zakir Jalalay, head of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on the social media platform X that Afghanistan and the US must cooperate and can maintain economic and political relations based on mutual respect and shared interests. "Afghans have never accepted a (foreign) military presence in history, and (this scenario) was completely rejected during the talks and the Doha agreement, but the door to further interaction is open," Jalalay said.

Although the U.S. and the Taliban do not have formal diplomatic relations, the sides have held talks about the hostages. An American who was kidnapped more than two years ago while traveling in Afghanistan as a tourist was released by the Taliban in March.

Last week, the Taliban also announced that they had reached an agreement with US envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of efforts to normalize relations between the United States and Afghanistan. (PAP)

os/ mal/

The Taliban ruling in Afghanistan have ruled out the possibility of Americans returning to Bagram Military Base, a move previously suggested by US President Donald Trump.

Zakir Jalalay of the Afghan Foreign Ministry ruled out the possibility of the Americans returning in a post on the X portal. He added, however, that the Taliban is ready to engage in talks with the Trump administration on economic and political issues.

During a press conference on Thursday at the end of his visit to the UK, President Trump suggested the return of the US military to Bagram, the former US air base in Afghanistan.

Trump linked the issue of returning to Afghanistan to the need to counter China's moves.

"We are trying to retake (the base)," the American leader said. He did not provide any details.

Bagram Base, the largest in the country, was taken over by the Taliban in 2021 during the chaotic American retreat from Afghanistan.

The US president has repeatedly said the base should remain under Washington's control. He has also suggested that the Chinese military is present there. However, Beijing and the Taliban have denied this. (PAP)

mobr/ szm/