Trump warns Taliban of ‘bad things’ to come if US doesn’t reclaim Bagram Air Base
The article reports that former President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to the Taliban regarding the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Trump stated that if Afghanistan dose not return control of the base-originally built and used by the U.S.-“bad things are going to happen.” He indicated that his administration is actively seeking to reclaim the base, which was abandoned during the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021 under president Biden. Trump mentioned strategic concerns, including proximity to China’s nuclear weapons facilities, as a reason for reclaiming the base. However, Taliban officials have rejected the idea of allowing any U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, emphasizing political and economic engagement based on mutual respect instead. Despite this, Trump suggested ongoing talks with the Taliban and warned of consequences if the U.S. demands are not met. The article references the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021, which included tragic incidents such as a deadly suicide bombing and a mistaken drone strike.
Trump warns Taliban of ‘bad things’ to come if US doesn’t reclaim Bagram Air Base
President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to the Taliban on Saturday if the United States is not able to reclaim the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
“If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!” he posted on Truth Social.
Trump’s post marks a quick escalation from his public comments about the air base earlier this week.
During his trip to the United Kingdom, the president revealed that his administration will be “trying” to retake control of the base, which was abandoned as part of the larger U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 under the Biden administration.
“We’re trying to get it back by the way, that could be a little breaking news,” Trump said. “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us.”
Trump cited China as one of the main reasons the U.S. needs the base back.
“We want that base back, but one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” he said.
Taliban officials, however, were quick to shoot down Trump’s plan.
Foreign ministry official Zakir Jalaly signaled on Thursday that no U.S. military presence in Afghanistan would be allowed again.
“Afghans have never accepted the military presence of anyone throughout history,” Jalaly said, before stressing that other ways the two governments could engage “remain open.”
“Without the U.S. having any military presence in Afghanistan, both Afghanistan and the U.S. need to engage with each other, and they can have political and economic relations based on mutual respect and shared interests,” he added.
Despite the Taliban’s response this week, Trump signaled on Saturday night that his administration was currently engaged in talks with them.
“We’re talking now to Afghanistan. We want it back and we want it back soon. Right away — and if they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do,” Trump told reporters before traveling to an annual dinner hosted by the American Cornerstone Institute.
US TRYING TO GET BAGRAM AIR BASE IN AFGHANISTAN BACK, TRUMP SAYS
The U.S. hasn’t had a military presence in Afghanistan since late August 2021 after the chaotic withdrawal from the country.
In the last week of that operation, a suicide bomber killed 13 U.S. service members and about 170 Afghans. U.S. forces then tried to prevent a similar attack, launching a drone strike targeting an individual who it later admitted was a civilian. That strike resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians.
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