Afghan Taliban officials have firmly rejected U.S. demands to return control of Bagram Air Base, saying any deal involving the former U.S. military facility is “not possible.” The comments come after President Donald Trump publicly pressed for the base’s return and threatened unspecified consequences if the Taliban did not comply.
Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Staff of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense under the Taliban government, stated that although “some people” have claimed there are negotiations aimed at handing Bagram back, such a scenario was unrealistic. “A deal over even an inch of Afghanistan’s soil is not possible. We don’t need it,” he said, characterizing the idea as contrary to Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
The rejection follows President Trump’s repeated reference to Bagram’s strategic value, including its proximity to China, asserting that the U.S. built the base and should have it back. He warned that if the Taliban does not relinquish control, “bad things are going to happen.”
Taliban officials point to existing agreements, particularly the Doha Agreement signed in 2020, arguing that those commitments prohibit foreign military presence or interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. The government insists it is open to political and economic relations on the basis of “mutual respect and shared interests,” but remains staunchly opposed to allowing U.S. military operations or control over Afghan territory.
