The Ambassador of Afghanistan to Tajikistan commented on U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement about the return of American troops to the Bagram airfield.
DUSHANBE, Sept 24 — Sputnik_Sangar. U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on regaining control over the Bagram base have sparked heated discussions both in Afghanistan and in international political circles.
Mohammad Zahir Agbar, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan, told Sputnik Tajikistan that the transfer of the military airfield to the United States cannot be justified under any pretext.
“First of all, Afghanistan does not have a legitimate state capable of creating the necessary harmony between national, regional, and international interests, given the geopolitical sensitivity of the region and the country’s strategic importance,” said Mohammad Zahir Agbar.
Earlier, President Trump announced his intention to restore the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, saying, among other things, that if Kabul did not return the Bagram airbase “to those who built it,” meaning the United States, “something bad” might happen.
Zahir Agbar stressed that such statements could not be random or sudden, but rather represent a pre-planned strategy aligned with Washington’s geopolitical and strategic interests.
“It seems that the Taliban* were considered an instrument in this direction, since their weekly financial support amounting to almost $80 million was aimed at sustaining this fragile group over the past four years,” the diplomat said.
Meanwhile, Taliban* Chief of Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat responded to Trump’s statement by saying that the Taliban* would not cede “an inch” of their territory to anyone.
Other representatives of the movement echoed similar sentiments. On Taliban* social media, an anti-American campaign gained momentum. Even opponents of the group largely rejected Donald Trump’s words.
The presence of the U.S. in Bagram may serve Washington’s geopolitical and strategic goals, but by no means the interests of the Afghan people or the region, the ambassador said.
“If the Taliban* see this presence as a guarantee of their continued rule, the reality says otherwise: some Afghans may temporarily welcome U.S. presence out of dissatisfaction with the Taliban*, but on the other hand, a significant part of the Afghan and regional population will react, leading to escalated rivalries. The country will once again become a battlefield of internal wars and foreign intelligence clashes,” said Mohammad Zahir Agbar.
Washington would achieve more positive results if, instead of such decisions, it tried to influence the political process, build an inclusive and legitimate government, and ensure stability in Afghanistan, he added.
“The establishment of security and stability in Afghanistan depends on the will of a free and independent people, fruitful cooperation with the international community, not on external pressure, biased agendas, or imposed groups dependent on foreigners,” said Mohammad Zahir Agbar.
The Bagram Air Base is a military airfield in Afghanistan, located in Bagram District of Parwan Province, north of Kabul, the capital.
It was built by the Soviet Union and served as the main air base in Afghanistan for Soviet air forces from 1979 to 1989.
During the American presence in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2021, it was occupied by the U.S. Air Force — meaning Trump is also mistaken about “those who built it.”
* The organization is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.