A Taliban official has rejected the idea that the US could retake a key airbase in Afghanistan after President Donald Trump told reporters he wanted it back.
Zakir Jalal, who works in the Taliban's foreign ministry, stated that the notion of the US maintaining any military presence in Afghanistan was completely dismissed during talks between both parties before the Taliban regained control.
This followed Trump's hint about possibly retaking Bagram airbase - once the center of NATO forces in the country for two decades - suggesting it might be feasible because they need things from us.
The airbase had been handed over to the Afghan military just before the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan.
Trump remarked at a press conference in the UK that the US gave it to them for nothing. The complete withdrawal of US troops occurred under a deal signed during Trump's first administration in 2020 and was completed under President Biden's tenure in 2021.
Trump noted that he had intended to maintain the Bagram airbase, not solely for Afghanistan's sake but to monitor China, emphasizing its strategic importance being just an hour's distance from where China develops its nuclear arsenal. However, investigations reveal no significant activity at the base since the Taliban's return.
The Taliban's Jalal concluded by stating on the social media platform X that Afghans historically do not accept a foreign military presence, reiterating that this stance had been firmly established during peace discussions.
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