Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Sep 21: US President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Afghanistan, insisting that the Bagram Airbase—once a key American military stronghold—be returned to U.S. control.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared, “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, bad things are going to happen.”

Trump emphasized that efforts were underway to regain the strategic base, which played a central role in U.S. operations following the 9/11 attacks. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he confirmed that Washington was in ongoing discussions regarding the base’s status.

Bagram, located about 50 kilometers north of Kabul, served as the primary hub for U.S. and NATO forces during America’s two-decade-long military presence in Afghanistan. The base fell into Taliban hands following the U.S. military withdrawal in August 2021.

The Taliban government has strongly pushed back against Trump’s demands. In response to his remarks, a senior official from Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry told state-run Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA) that the nation would not tolerate foreign military presence on its soil.

“Afghans have never accepted foreign troops throughout their history,” said diplomat Jalali, as quoted by China’s Xinhua News Agency. “The future of Afghanistan-U.S. relations must be based on mutual respect and shared interests, especially in political and economic domains.”

Trump, a vocal critic of President Joe Biden’s handling of the U.S. withdrawal, has repeatedly condemned the abandonment of Bagram, calling it a major strategic failure. During remarks in London on Thursday, he reiterated, “We want to retake it.”

The controversy surrounding Bagram Airbase continues to underline deep geopolitical divides, with the base remaining a symbol of both American military might and the turbulent legacy of the war in Afghanistan.