Trump says ‘bad things’ will happen if Afghanistan does not return Bagram air base
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The withdrawal of American forces in 2021 led to a takeover of the base by the Islamist Taliban movement.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Trump threatened Afghanistan, saying "BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN" if Bagram Airbase isn't returned to the U.S.
- Trump claimed the U.S. is seeking to regain control of the base, used after 9/11, following the 2021 withdrawal.
- Afghan officials oppose a renewed U.S. presence, with Zakir Jalal stating no "military presence in any part of Afghanistan".
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WASHINGTON - US President Trump on Sept 20 threatened Afghanistan if it does not give back control of Bagram air base to the US.
“If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN,” Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Mr Trump said on Sept 18 that the US had sought to regain control of the base used by American forces following the attacks of Sept 11, 2001.
He told reporters on Sept 19 that he was speaking to Afghanistan about it.
The withdrawal of American forces in 2021 led to a takeover of the base by the Islamist Taliban movement.
Afghan officials have expressed opposition to a revived US presence.
“Afghanistan and the United States need to engage with one another... without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan,” Mr Zakir Jalal, an Afghan Foreign Ministry official, said in a post on social media platform X on Sept 18. REUTERS
