Taliban Rejects Trump’s Demand to Hand Over Bagram Air Base, Vows to Defend Afghan Sovereignty

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – The row over Bagram Air Base has escalated sharply, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning of “bad things” if the site is not returned to American control and Taliban leaders vowing to resist any attempt to reclaim it.

On Sunday, the Taliban urged Washington to honor its commitments under the 2020 Doha Agreement, which pledged the U.S. would not threaten Afghanistan’s “territorial integrity and political independence.” The group said America must avoid “repeating the failed experiences of the past” and instead adopt a “realistic and rational approach.”

Taliban Defiant

Afghan Foreign Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi ruled out any concessions:  “Even if the United States rebuilds the whole of Afghanistan anew, not even Bagram, not even an inch of land–will be given to anyone.”

Taliban Army Chief Fasihuddin Fitrat echoed that position, telling Tolo News, “We assure our fellow countrymen that not even an inch of our land is up for negotiation.”

Mullah Tajmir Jawad, the Taliban’s deputy intelligence chief and founder of the Al-Hamza suicide battalion, delivered the starkest warning, vowing to resume suicide bombings if necessary to defend Taliban rule.

“As we once donned explosive vests to establish this regime, we will don them again to protect it from infidels, occupiers, and all who oppose us,” Jawad said in Paktia province.

Trump’s Warnings

President Trump doubled down on his demand, writing on Truth Social: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Air Base back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!”

Speaking later to reporters, he said, “We’re talking now to Afghanistan. We want it back right away, and if they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do.”

Trump has repeatedly highlighted Bagram’s strategic value, noting its proximity to China.

“One of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” he said during a recent U.K. visit.

Why It Matters

Located about 30 miles north of Kabul, Bagram was the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan. It served as the central hub for operations against the Taliban and al-Qaeda during America’s 20-year war. Also, it became notorious as a detention site where thousands were imprisoned without charge, many alleging abuse.

The base has remained under Taliban control since the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Its fate carries both strategic and symbolic weight, highlighting the lingering consequences of America’s exit from Afghanistan and the broader contest for influence in South and Central Asia.

International Reaction

China has backed Kabul’s stance. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing “respects Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” adding, “The future of Afghanistan should be in the hands of the Afghanistan people.”

With the Taliban holding firm and Trump threatening reprisals, the standoff over Bagram is expected to remain unresolved in the near term. Analysts warn the clash could shape the trajectory of U.S.-Afghan relations and further complicate regional security, particularly in light of U.S.-China tensions.

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