The simmering dispute over Bagram Air Base has once again thrust Afghanistan and the United States into the international spotlight, as President Donald Trump issued a blunt ultimatum demanding the return of the sprawling military facility north of Kabul. The controversy, which reignited in September 2025, has drawn sharp rebukes from Taliban officials and stoked memories of America’s tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan just four years ago.
On September 20, President Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to deliver a message that left little room for ambiguity: “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 warning, which followed Trump’s remarks in London during a state visit, signaled a renewed push by Washington to regain control of the base that once served as the nerve center of U.S. military operations in the region (as reported by IANS and Gulf Times).
Trump’s public statements didn’t stop at online posts. Addressing reporters at the White House, he confirmed that discussions with Afghanistan were underway, though he declined to specify whether military action was on the table. “We won’t talk about that, but we’re talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back and we want it back soon, right away. And if they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do,” Trump told the press, according to ETV Bharat and Gulf Times.
The Bagram air base, located about 50 kilometers north of Kabul, looms large in the history of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. Originally built with Soviet assistance in the 1950s and later expanded by both Moscow and Washington, it evolved into the largest U.S. military installation in the country during the two-decade war against the Taliban. At its height, Bagram resembled a small American town, complete with supermarkets, fast-food outlets, and even visits from U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama and Trump himself. But in August 2021, as part of a Trump-brokered peace deal with the Taliban and executed under President Joe Biden, U.S. and NATO troops withdrew from Bagram in a chaotic exit that paved the way for the Taliban’s swift return to power (Gulf Times).
Trump has never hidden his regret over the loss of Bagram, repeatedly criticizing Biden’s handling of the withdrawal and expressing concern over China’s growing influence in the region. “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us,” he said during his UK visit, hinting that the Taliban’s need for international support might open the door for U.S. leverage (Associated Press).
The Taliban, however, have been quick to reject any suggestion of an American return. On September 21, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed Trump’s remarks, urging the U.S. to adopt a policy of “realism and rationality.” He emphasized Afghanistan’s desire for constructive relations based on “mutual and shared interests” and underscored the importance of the country’s independence and territorial integrity. “It should be recalled that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States pledged that ‘it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs,’” Mujahid stated, referencing the 2020 accord that set the terms for the U.S. withdrawal (Associated Press, Xinhua).
Other senior Afghan officials echoed this hard line. Mullah Tajmir Jawad, first deputy of the General Directorate of Intelligence, said the Afghan government would preserve the current system and resist any foreign military presence. Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid made the Taliban’s stance even clearer: “Our answer is, if you don’t leave and want bases, we are ready to fight you for another 20 years.” Zakir Jalaly, political director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, insisted that Afghans have “never accepted foreign troops on their territory” and that any dialogue with Washington must exclude the prospect of military reoccupation (Xinhua).
Fasihuddin Fitrat, chief of staff at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, further reinforced the message on Sunday, stating unequivocally that “a deal over even an inch of Afghanistan’s soil is not possible. We don’t need it.” The government’s official statement reiterated that “Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity are of the utmost importance” (Gulf Times).
The symbolic significance of Bagram remains potent for both sides. In August 2024, the Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover at the base with a military parade featuring abandoned U.S. equipment—a pointed reminder of how quickly the fortunes of war can shift. The parade caught the attention of the White House and reinforced the Taliban’s message that foreign powers would not be welcomed back (Associated Press).
Yet, for many Afghans and international observers, the shadow of Bagram is not just about geopolitics. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have long raised concerns about abuses at the facility during the U.S.-led “War on Terror,” particularly in relation to detainee treatment. These allegations have complicated the legacy of the base and added another layer of tension to the current standoff (Gulf Times).
Despite the heated rhetoric, the two sides have maintained some channels of communication. The Taliban recently announced a prisoner exchange deal with U.S. envoys, releasing photos of Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi meeting with Trump’s special envoy for hostage response, Adam Boehler. Earlier this year, an American tourist held in Afghanistan for more than two years was freed after direct contacts between the Taliban and U.S. officials. While the White House has remained silent on the specifics, these developments suggest that, behind the public posturing, pragmatic engagement continues (Associated Press).
Meanwhile, the debate over Bagram has exposed the enduring wounds of America’s longest war and the deep distrust that lingers on both sides. Trump’s demand for the base’s return has been met with a united front by the Taliban, who see any foreign military presence as an affront to their sovereignty. For U.S. policymakers, the loss of Bagram is a painful reminder of the limits of American power and the unpredictable consequences of withdrawal.
As the world watches, the fate of Bagram Air Base remains a powerful symbol of the broader struggle for influence, legitimacy, and security in Afghanistan—a struggle that, for now, shows no sign of resolution.