The debate over Bagram Air Base, once the nerve center of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, has erupted anew after President Donald Trump publicly demanded its return, threatening consequences if the Taliban government refused. The sprawling base, located north of Kabul, has become a flashpoint in the tense relationship between the United States and Afghanistan, four years after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal left the facility in Taliban hands.
Trump’s remarks, delivered during a state visit to the United Kingdom on September 20, 2025, reignited a controversy many thought had faded with the U.S. exit in 2021. “We want it back, and we want it back right away. If they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do,” Trump declared, according to the Associated Press. Later, on his Truth Social platform, he sharpened his tone: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!”
The Taliban government, now firmly in control of Afghanistan, wasted no time in rejecting Trump’s overtures. On September 21, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged the U.S. to adopt a policy of “realism and rationality.” He cited the 2020 Doha Agreement, under which the U.S. pledged not to “use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs.” Mujahid emphasized, “It had been consistently communicated to the US in all bilateral negotiations that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity were of the utmost importance.”
Fasihuddin Fitrat, chief of staff at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, also addressed the issue in a speech broadcast by Afghan media. He was unequivocal: “Ceding even an inch of our soil to anyone is out of the question and impossible.” Fitrat added, “Recently, some people have said that they have entered negotiations with Afghanistan for taking back Bagram air base. A deal over even an inch of Afghanistan’s soil is not possible. We don’t need it.” The Afghan government later reinforced this stance in an official statement, warning that “Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity are of the utmost importance.”
The history of Bagram Air Base is as tumultuous as the country itself. Built with Soviet assistance in the early 1950s, the airfield was expanded during the Cold War and further developed during the Soviet occupation. After the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, Bagram became the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan, at its peak resembling a small American town complete with supermarkets and fast-food outlets like Dairy Queen and Burger King. It even played host to several U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama in 2012 and Trump himself in 2019.
But Bagram’s legacy is not without controversy. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly raised allegations of systematic abuses by U.S. forces at the base, particularly regarding the treatment of detainees during the so-called “War on Terror.” These allegations have cast a long shadow over the base’s history, complicating any discussion about its future.
The U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Bagram in July 2021 marked a turning point. The pullout, which came under President Joe Biden but followed a 2020 deal brokered by Trump with the Taliban, was widely criticized for its chaotic execution. The loss of crucial air power at Bagram contributed to the rapid collapse of the Afghan military, paving the way for the Taliban’s return to power just weeks later. Trump has repeatedly criticized Biden for what he calls the “gross incompetence” of the withdrawal, but the seeds of the exit were sown during his own administration’s negotiations.
In August 2024, the Taliban marked the third anniversary of their takeover of Bagram with a grand military display, showcasing abandoned U.S. hardware. The spectacle caught the eye of the White House and underscored the shifting balance of power in the region. Trump’s recent comments suggest he believes the Taliban, beset by economic crises and seeking international legitimacy, might be open to a deal. “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us,” he said, hinting at possible leverage in future negotiations.
However, the Taliban’s response has been consistently firm. Mujahid, the chief spokesman, reminded the U.S. that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States had pledged not to threaten Afghanistan’s sovereignty. “The U.S. needed to remain faithful to its commitments,” he insisted, according to the Associated Press. Fitrat, for his part, dismissed the notion of a political deal over the base as impossible, adding, “We don’t need it.”
Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, the U.S. and Taliban have engaged in limited, pragmatic conversations. Earlier this year, an American tourist abducted in Afghanistan was released by the Taliban after more than two years in captivity. The Taliban also claimed to have reached an agreement with U.S. envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of efforts to normalize relations, though details remain scarce and the White House has not commented on the meeting.
The strategic significance of Bagram Air Base extends beyond Afghanistan’s borders. Trump has previously highlighted the base’s proximity to China, implying its value in broader geopolitical calculations. Yet, for the Afghan government, the symbolism of foreign control over Bagram is a red line. As Fitrat made clear, “A deal over even an inch of Afghanistan’s soil is not possible.”
Amid the diplomatic sparring, questions linger about the future of U.S.-Afghan relations. While Trump’s threats have drawn global attention, the Taliban’s insistence on sovereignty and territorial integrity suggests little room for compromise. The legacy of Bagram—its history, controversies, and symbolism—remains a potent reminder of the complexities that continue to define Afghanistan’s relationship with the outside world.
As the debate rages on, the fate of Bagram Air Base stands as a testament to the enduring challenges of international diplomacy, national pride, and the long shadows cast by decades of conflict.
