The ongoing dispute over the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan is intensifying. The Taliban has firmly stated its refusal to hand over the airbase to the United States. Sources suggest that the Taliban is ready to resume fighting if the US attempts to seize the airbase by force.
Former US President Donald Trump has recently emphasized the strategic importance of the Bagram Airbase, issuing warnings about potential negative consequences should the Taliban fail to cooperate.
Security measures have been significantly increased for Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in Kandahar. His residence, situated in a local businessman’s guesthouse in the Aino Mina area, is under a special security cordon. Internet services are down, and restrictions are placed on phones and other communication tools. Commandos have been positioned around him.
High-level discussions in Kandahar brought together Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Higher Education Minister Nada Mohammad Nadim, top intelligence officials, the communications minister, the central bank governor, and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani. The consensus reached was that the transfer of the Bagram Airbase is non-negotiable. The Taliban will respond immediately if the US launches an attack.
Some officials cautioned Akhundzada that the US could potentially return to Afghanistan under the 2020 Doha Agreement to counter terrorism. Nevertheless, Akhundzada has emphasized the importance of continuing political dialogue while firmly rejecting any foreign military presence.
Bagram Airbase was the largest US military base for two decades and the main hub of its operations. After the US military withdrawal in August 2021, it came under the control of the Taliban. Trump viewed it as strategically important in the context of China and the fight against terrorism. The Taliban has recently urged the US to adhere to the 2020 Doha Agreement and avoid repeating past strategic failures.