Taliban army chief: No negotiations over Bagram air base

In response to President Trump’s remarks about retaking Bagram air base, Taliban army chief Fasihuddin Fitrat said Sunday at an event in Kabul that they will not compromise on any part of Afghanistan’s territory.

“We assure our fellow countrymen that not even an inch of our land is up for negotiation,” Fitrat said. “It is completely impossible and unacceptable.”

His comments follow remarks by US President Donald Trump, who has brought up the issue of reclaiming Bagram four times in the past three days. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump said the United States wants to retake the air base “as soon as possible.”

He also issued a warning to the Taliban, saying, “If they don’t give it back, you’ll see what I’ll do. Bad things will happen.”

Trump added, “We’re talking to Afghanistan right now. We want it back — and fast. Immediately.”

In response, Fitrat said the Taliban are not intimidated by threats.

“We are not afraid of any bully,” he said. “We proved that in the 20-year jihad against the United States and its allies.”

Meanwhile, Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special envoy for Afghan peace, said a potential deal over Bagram cannot be ruled out if progress is made on resolving the issue of detainees held by both sides.

Writing on X, Khalilzad said: “Assuming success in resolving the detainee/hostage issue between the United States and the Taliban, there could be additional steps and issues that would require agreement and work. Over time, broader security cooperation — including potential use of facilities like Bagram for joint counterterrorism operations — cannot be ruled out. But this will require persistence.”

Bagram was the largest US military base in Afghanistan during America’s 20-year presence in the country. The base fell into Taliban hands following the withdrawal of US forces in August 2021.

Trump has previously claimed that Bagram is now under Chinese control, a claim that has not been independently verified.