Washington, September 21 — U.S. President Donald Trump warned Afghanistan of severe consequences if it does not relinquish control of the Bagram Air Base to the United States, leaving open the possibility of military action to reclaim the strategic site, according to details received by The Chenab Times.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, 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,” as reported by Reuters. The Bagram Air Base, a major hub for U.S. forces during the two-decade war in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks, was abandoned by American troops in 2021, after which the Taliban assumed control following the fall of the U.S.-backed government in Kabul.
Trump, who has long expressed interest in reclaiming strategic locations like Bagram, told reporters on Friday that negotiations with Afghan authorities were underway. On Saturday, when pressed about deploying U.S. troops to retake the base, he remained noncommittal, stating, “We won’t talk about that. We’re talking now to Afghanistan and we want it back and we want it back soon, right away,” according to Reuters.
Afghan officials have voiced opposition to a renewed U.S. military presence at the base. U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, warned that re-occupying Bagram could require over 10,000 troops and advanced air defenses, potentially resembling a re-invasion. The base, which once housed fast-food chains and a large prison complex, faces security threats from Islamic State and al Qaeda militants, as well as potential missile attacks from Iran, which struck a U.S. base in Qatar earlier this year.
No further statements from the Taliban or Afghan authorities were available at the time of reporting.
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