Explainer: Why Trump is demanding Taliban to hand back Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase years after agreeing to leave it
The Taliban have rejected the demand, citing the 2020 Doha Agreement under which US forces withdrew
US President Donald Trump has urged Afghanistan's Taliban authorities to return the Bagram airbase, once Washington's largest military hub in the country, five years after his administration signed a deal to end the US presence there.
The Taliban have rejected the demand, citing the 2020 Doha Agreement under which US forces withdrew. Analysts say the base's strategic location near China explains Trump's renewed focus – but question whether the request is realistic.
What did Trump say?
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
At a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Sept. 18, Trump said the United States was seeking to regain control of the site.
"We gave it to [the Taliban] for nothing. We want that base back," he said.
Two days later, he repeated the call in stronger terms on his Truth Social platform: "If Afghanistan doesn't give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!"
This is not the first time Trump has signalled interest in retaking the facility. In February, he said in a White House briefing that his earlier plan had been to "keep Bagram" with a small US force, says Al Jazeera.
What is Bagram airbase?
Located about 50 km (31 miles) north of Kabul, Bagram has been contested for decades.
Built by the Soviets: Constructed in the 1950s, it became their main hub during the 1979–1989 occupation.
Northern Alliance and Taliban: After the Soviet withdrawal, it passed to Afghan factions, then the Taliban.
US and NATO control: From 2001, the site grew into a sprawling complex with two runways, barracks, a hospital, and detention facilities. At its peak in 2009, around 10,000 personnel were stationed there.
Closure in 2021: US troops evacuated during the withdrawal, destroying some equipment and leaving others behind. The Taliban seized it soon after.
The base became notorious for its prison, where detainees reported abuse, and was central to US air operations, including missions that caused civilian casualties.
Why does Trump want it back?
Trump has criticised the 2021 withdrawal, saying US forces left behind equipment worth billions of dollars. But analysts argue his focus on Bagram is less about hardware and more about strategy, reports Al Jazeera.
"It has always been of important strategic value, since it was built by the Soviet Union," said Ibraheem Bahiss, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.
Bagram is Afghanistan's largest airbase, one of the few able to host heavy military aircraft. Its location has gained renewed significance as US attention shifts toward China.
"As the priorities shifted, and the US started viewing China as the number one threat, this base is seemingly important once again, primarily because of its proximity to China," said Hekmatullah Azamy of the Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies in Kabul.
Trump has linked the demand directly to China, telling reporters in London the base is "an hour away from where [China] makes its nuclear weapons." He has previously said it lies "exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles."
How has China responded?
Beijing dismissed Trump's remarks, cautioning against renewed rivalry in the region.
"Afghanistan's future should be decided by its own people. Stirring up tension and creating confrontation in the region won't be popular," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.
Could the US retake Bagram?
Analysts are sceptical.
"In theory, Bagram is a strategic base for the US in terms of projecting power into the region," said Ashley Jackson, co-director of the Geneva-based Centre on Armed Groups. "But the move would seem to be in direct contradiction to the US policy of ending the military mission in Afghanistan."
Logistics would be "extremely challenging and lengthy," Jackson added.
The Taliban also see little incentive in returning the site. "Such a move would crush the Taliban's legitimacy," Azamy said.
Bahiss agreed, noting the group's founding narrative centred on resisting foreign troops. "Any negotiations with a foreign military would shatter their strength and risk their own members deserting the movement in large droves," he said.
How has the Taliban responded?
The Taliban have repeatedly rejected Trump's calls, pointing to the 2020 Doha Agreement signed by his administration.
"The US pledged that it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs," Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat wrote on social media. "The US needs to remain faithful to its commitments."
What is Washington's game plan?
Some analysts suggest Trump's demand may be less about physically regaining the base and more about leverage in future negotiations.
"It could be a means of demanding something grand, like Bagram, and settling for something smaller and more symbolic down the road," Jackson said, citing the return of weapons or equipment.
A US Defense Department assessment in 2022 estimated more than $7 billion worth of military hardware had been left behind in Afghanistan, much of it now in Taliban hands.
Bahiss said talks over Bagram could also provide a channel for broader US-Taliban engagement. "What can the Taliban offer? Is it going to be private investment, minerals, or military assets like Bagram? It's really up to the Taliban to show what they can offer," he said.
