The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has issued a strong response following U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on Friday warning that “bad things would happen” if Kabul did not hand over Bagram Airbase to the United States.
On Saturday, multiple senior Afghan officials appeared in domestic media, firmly rejecting Trump’s threats and dismissing any possibility of the U.S. military re-establishing control of the former American stronghold.
Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid released a statement urging Washington to adopt a “policy of realism and rationality,” stressing that the 2020 Doha agreement—signed by Trump himself—did not permit the U.S. to maintain any forces inside Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi echoed this position in a televised interview, declaring:
“Not even one meter of Afghan land will be given to the Americans. Even if you recognize us and rebuild from scratch—let alone Bagram—we will not give up even one meter of this country. When we spoke with America and others in Doha, we made it clear: we do not accept even a single one of your people in uniform.”
Afghan Chief of Staff Fasihuddin Fitrat, formerly the Taliban’s military commander, reinforced the uncompromising stance, warning:
“Ceding even an inch of our soil is impossible, and we will not allow any foreign presence or interference in Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate is fully prepared to defend our homeland, and any aggression will be met with the strongest response. We urge the United States to respect our independence and adhere to the agreements made, focusing on peaceful relations instead of threats.”
Trump’s pointed remarks and his persistent fixation on Bagram have fueled speculation about Washington’s intentions. The notion that the U.S. might consider renewed military involvement in Afghanistan—after two decades of war and a withdrawal Trump himself once championed—has raised further questions.
Analysts suggest that Trump’s interest in retaking Bagram may be tied to its strategic location near China, as well as Washington’s desire to reassert influence in a region where its footprint has steadily declined over the past decade.