Beijing, Sept 19: China and the Taliban on Friday rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to reclaim Afghanistan’s strategic Bagram air base near the Chinese border, with Beijing cautioning against efforts to stir regional confrontation and Kabul reiterating that Afghans never accepted foreign military presence.
The sprawling Bagram air base was abandoned by American troops four years ago in 2021 during their chaotic withdrawal ordered by then president Joe Biden, as Taliban militants took control of Kabul.
Trump, speaking at a joint press conference in the UK with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on Thursday said he was trying to get the base back because of its proximity to where China makes nuclear weapons. The US President was on a state visit to the UK.
Reacting to Trump’s remarks, Taliban official Zakir Jalal said the interim Afghanistan government “completely rejects” the idea.
Afghanistan and America need to engage with each other and can have economic and political relations based on mutual respect and common benefits, without America having military presence in any part of Afghanistan, he said in a post on X.
“Military presence has never been accepted by Afghans in history, and this possibility was completely rejected during the Doha talks and agreement, but doors to other engagements have been opened,” Jalal added.
China too conveyed its opposition to Trump’s remarks, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian telling a media briefing in Beijing that “stirring up tension and confrontation in the region will not be supported”.
“China respects Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity… Afghanistan’s future should rest in the hands of the Afghan people,” he said.
“Let me stress that stirring up tension and confrontation in the region will not be supported… We hope all parties will play a constructive role for regional peace and stability,” Lin said.
China, which established diplomatic ties with the Taliban government soon after its takeover of Kabul, has invested in reviving a copper mine and oil extraction projects in Afghanistan.
During the press conference in the UK on Thursday, Trump said America is trying to get the Bagram air base back “because they need things from us”, referring to the talks between the Taliban and US interlocutors to re-establish relations.
The US President reiterated the importance of its location, saying one reason to take Bagram back was because “it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons”, the BBC reported.
