Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly attempting to re-establish control over Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. He recently presented a proposal to the Taliban government regarding the base, which was subsequently rejected. The Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021, following the departure of U.S. forces after two decades of conflict.
Trump’s interest in the base represents a desire to re-introduce a U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. The proposal, which involved taking control of Bagram Air Base, was also presented to China but was met with strong opposition. The Taliban declined the proposal.
Bagram Air Base is located in Afghanistan’s Parwan province, about 40-60 km north of Kabul. It’s a significant military airbase and is recognized as one of the world’s largest and most strategically important.
The Soviet Union constructed Bagram Air Base in the 1950s. It served as a key base for Soviet forces during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s. The U.S. took control of the base in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks.
During the two decades of the war in Afghanistan, Bagram served as the central hub for U.S. operations. It housed over 30,000 American troops and functioned as the headquarters for NATO forces.
The base features two long concrete runways, capable of supporting large aircraft like the C-5 Galaxy and B-52 bombers. It included extensive infrastructure such as aircraft shelters, fuel storage, hospitals, a prison, and intelligence centers.
Bagram’s strategic location is key, situated between South Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia, near the borders of Iran, Pakistan, China’s Xinjiang province, and Russia. Its proximity to Xinjiang, where China’s nuclear weapons facilities are located, adds to its strategic importance.
For the U.S., the base could be crucial in countering Chinese influence, allowing the monitoring of China and Iran. It could be used for counter-terrorism, drone operations, air strikes, and intelligence gathering. It is also considered a potential gateway for maintaining U.S. influence in Central Asia.
Since the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, the Taliban has controlled the base. While there have been claims of increased Chinese activity at the base, these have not been confirmed.