A senior Afghan diplomat has sharply criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump's recent suggestion to reoccupy Bagram Airbase, calling the remarks incompatible with Afghanistan's historical resistance to foreign military presence. The comments come amid renewed debates about U.S. foreign policy decisions in postwar Afghanistan.
Jalali, a high-ranking foreign ministry official, told state-run Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA) on Friday: "Afghans have never accepted foreign military presence in their land throughout history. Afghanistan and America need engagement based on bilateral respect and common interests."
Trump reignited controversy during a London press conference Thursday by stating "We want to retake it," referring to the strategic airfield that served as the nerve center for U.S. operations during its 20-year military campaign. The former president has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration's 2021 withdrawal from the base, which preceded the collapse of the Western-backed government.
Located 50 km north of Kabul, Bagram Airbase symbolized international military presence until August 2021. Its transfer to Afghan forces – followed by rapid Taliban advances – marked a turning point in modern Afghan history. Analysts suggest Trump's comments could strain ongoing efforts to establish stable international relations with the current Afghan government.
