**Taliban Rejects Trump’s Demand to Return Bagram Airbase**
*By Snehil Singh | September 21, 2025, 04:34 PM*
The Taliban has firmly rejected United States President Donald Trump’s demand to return control of the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan. This airbase, which served as a major military hub for the US for nearly two decades, came under Taliban control when they took over the country in July 2021.
“Afghanistan is fully independent, governed by its own people, and not dependent on any foreign power,” stated Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, underscoring the group’s stance against foreign interference.
**Trump’s Threats Over Bagram Airbase**
Earlier, President Trump threatened Afghanistan with “bad things” if the Taliban did not hand back control of the Bagram airbase. He used the issue to criticize his predecessor’s administration for leaving significant American military assets in the hands of the Taliban.
The Bagram airbase is located approximately 64 kilometers from Kabul and was a crucial center for US military operations following the 9/11 attacks. Its strategic location at the crossroads of Iran, Pakistan, China’s Xinjiang province, and Central Asia has long made it an important asset for regional influence and surveillance over Eurasia.
**US and NATO Withdrawal Agreement**
The withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Bagram was completed in July 2021, under a peace deal first signed during President Trump’s administration and finalized under President Joe Biden. Despite Trump’s earlier insistence on maintaining control of Bagram — not for Afghanistan, but as a strategic position in relation to China — investigations have found no evidence that China has established a presence at the base since the Taliban takeover.
**No US Military Presence in Afghanistan**
Zakir Jalal, a Taliban foreign ministry official, dismissed any notion of a continued US military presence in Afghanistan. He emphasized that the idea was entirely rejected during prior talks before the Taliban resumed power.
Recently, the US and Taliban have engaged in talks primarily aimed at resolving issues concerning American citizens detained in Afghanistan.
**China’s Position**
A spokesperson from the Chinese foreign ministry stated that China respects Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. They added that Afghanistan’s future is a matter to be decided by its own people.
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The Bagram airbase issue highlights ongoing tensions between Afghanistan’s new leadership and the United States, reflecting broader geopolitical concerns in a strategically vital region.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/we-don-t-fear-taliban-rejects-trump-s-bagram-air-base-demand/story
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