by Asad Mirza
Bagram, now under Taliban control, has become a symbol of their victory.
President Donald Trump has fired a fresh salvo from his wish list, disregarding the sovereignty of an independent nation and ignoring established norms of international diplomacy. His conduct resembles that of a child who insists on taking control of what belongs to others.
After suggesting that Greenland, Mexico, and even Canada could be absorbed into the United States, Trump has once again turned his attention to a sovereign nation. His latest demand seeks to fulfil personal ambitions while attempting to neutralise perceived adversaries.
A Renewed Demand for Bagram
On Thursday, September 18, Trump announced that his administration was pressing to “get back” the military base at Bagram, Afghanistan. He has long described the facility as strategically important, pointing to its proximity to China. “We are trying to get it back,” he declared. “We gave it to \[the Taliban] for nothing.” He added that Bagram was “exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles.”
What he did not acknowledge was how the United States acquired Bagram in the first place: by sending troops into an independent nation under the banner of countering terrorism. The devastation inflicted on Afghanistan during two decades of occupation is well known.
On Truth Social, Trump threatened, “If Afghanistan does not give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, bad things are going to happen.” His words, coming from the president of a country that calls itself the oldest democracy, displayed a disregard for international law, decency, and decorum.
Taliban Response
As expected, Taliban officials dismissed the suggestion outright. On Friday, September 19, a foreign ministry representative stated on social media that Kabul was open to engagement but would not permit a renewed American military presence.
“Afghanistan and the United States need to engage with one another without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan,” wrote Zakir Jalal. He added that Kabul was prepared to develop political and economic ties with Washington based on “mutual respect and shared interests.”
Located north of Kabul, Bagram served as the hub of American military operations during the occupation. It also hosted a notorious prison where thousands were detained for years without charge, many of them subjected to abuse or torture in the so-called “war on terror.”
Strategic Calculations
Trump has often said he regretted that the base was abandoned, insisting that the United States should have maintained a small force. His reasoning focused less on Afghanistan and more on the location’s proximity to China.
Over the weekend, his special hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, and former Afghanistan envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul. Discussions reportedly centred on detained American citizens.
According to US media, officials have been considering ways to re-establish a presence at Bagram since at least March. But Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban’s Chief of Staff, rejected Trump’s call during a state-run television event on Sunday, September 21. “Afghanistan is fully independent, governed by its own people, and not dependent on any foreign power,” Bloomberg quoted him as saying. “We do not fear any bully or aggressor.”
A Symbol of Sovereignty
Trump has repeatedly criticised Joe Biden for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Bagram, now under Taliban control, has become a symbol of their victory. It features prominently in official ceremonies and military parades, a reminder of the retreating American forces.
The Taliban’s refusal underscores their assertion of sovereignty and sets a precedent for future negotiations. With Bagram lying at the crossroads of Iran, Pakistan, China’s Xinjiang region, and Central Asia, the base retains strategic significance. From there, the United States could potentially monitor Russian and Chinese activity.
Trump has claimed that China has since established a presence at the base, though the Taliban deny this. A BBC investigation, based on 30 satellite images taken between 2020 and 2025, found little evidence of activity at the site and no indication of a Chinese presence.
While India has remained silent, China reacted. On Friday, September 19, a foreign ministry spokesperson declared, “China respects Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The future of Afghanistan should be in the hands of the Afghan people.”
The episode leaves a troubling question about the judgment of a leader elected to the highest office in the United States, a man who appears to act out of political and personal interest rather than concern for his country or its people.
(The writer is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on national, international, defence and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant. Ideas are personal.)
