Have US troops regained control of Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base? Reports claim Taliban asked…

US President Doland Trump recently announced his plan to “reclaim” the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, sparking rumors and speculations on social media that US troops had returned to the Taliban-ruled country and retaken control of the strategic base which once served as their primary command center during the invasion.

Has US returned to Afghanistan?

Meanwhile, top US officials have rejected speculations about US troops being back in Afghanistan or regaining control of the Bagram Airbase as “entirely baseless”. Two senior US officials– a Pentagon source and a senior diplomat, separately confirmed that there are “no US troops are in Afghanistan”, and Washington has “no plans or negotiations to re-establish a military presence in the country,” Khamaa Press reported.

Earlier, speculations fueled by Trump’s recent suggestion that his administration might negotiate with the Taliban to “reclaim” Bagram, spread on Afghan social media that US troops were back in the country, while local media outlets claimed that Taliban had told residents near Bagram, north of Kabul, to evacuate.

Trump warns Afghanistan of ‘bad things’

In September, Doland Trump had stated that his administration is working to reclaim the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, asserting that the facility was strategically important for the US, because of its proximity to China’s nuclear weapons production centers.

“We’re talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back, and we want it back soon. If they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do,” Trump had said when asked whether US would be back in Afghanistan.

Later, Trump warned Afghanistan that “bad things are going to happen” if the Bagram base was not handed over to the US. .”If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!” Trump threatened in a post on his Truth Social platform.

What was Taliban’s response?

Following Trump’s ‘warning’, Taliban issued a stern response, with Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi declaring  that “not even one metre of Afghan land will be given to the Americans.”

“Not even an inch of Afghan soil is acceptable for foreign military presence. This message must reach President Trump and other countries. Engagement will only be political and economic,” Muttaqi said.

The Taliban regime in Kabul also issued an official statement on Sunday to address Trump’s remarks on Bagram airfield.

It said that Afghanistan was committed to a “balanced, economy-oriented foreign policy” rooted in the country’s Islamic principles and mutual interests with all nations, but will not allow foreign troops in the country.

Why US wants control of Bagram Air Base?

The US, who had used the Bagram Airfield as a military base for operations during its invasion of Afghanistan, now wants to reclaim the base because it is located close to China’s nuclear weapons production centers, strategically important for Washington. Trump has asserted that the US was making efforts to reclaim the strategic base because of proximity to China’s nuclear weapons manufacturing sites.

“We’re trying to get it back (Bagram Airbase), that could be a little breaking news. We’re trying to get it back. Because they need things from us. We want that base back. But one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. So a lot of things are happening,” the US President said.

Currently,  the Bagram Air Base is under the control of the Taliban government after the US troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021.

(With inputs from agencies)