![An Afghan soldier stands guard at the gate of Bagram US airbase in Parwan province on the day the last of American troops vacated it, July 2, 2021 [Mohammad Ismail/Reuters]](https://tut0ugh.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/an-afghan-soldier-stands-guard-at-the-gate-of-bagram-us-airbase-in-parwan-province-on-the-day-the-last-of-american-troops-vacated-it-july-2-2021.jpg?w=1024)
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (Sep. 20) that the United States seeks the return of Bagram Airbase, a major facility 64km north of Kabul used during America’s two-decade war in Afghanistan.
• Background: Bagram was the main base for US forces, where detainees were held under the “war on terror.” The Taliban retook it in 2021 following the US withdrawal.
• US stance: Trump indicated negotiations are ongoing and suggested unspecified consequences if Afghanistan does not comply.
• Afghan response: Officials, including Zakir Jalal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated Kabul opposes renewed US military presence but remains open to political and economic ties “based on mutual respect and shared interests.”
• Strategic context: Trump cited the base’s proximity to China and previous criticisms of the 2021 US withdrawal.
Source: Al Jazeera
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