,Washington: ( The COW News Digital) – US President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Afghanistan, demanding that the Taliban-led government hand over control of Bagram Airbase to the United States.
Taking to his Truth Social account on Saturday, Trump wrote, “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those who built it, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!”
This statement comes shortly after Trump hinted during his UK visit that Washington was exploring ways to regain control of the airbase. Bagram was the largest US military base in Afghanistan and served as a major hub for operations during the two-decade-long war against the Taliban.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have long documented allegations of detainee mistreatment at Bagram during the peak of the US-led “War on Terror.”
Trump, 79, has repeatedly criticized the loss of Bagram since US and NATO forces withdrew in July 2021, calling it a strategic mistake that benefitted China and other regional rivals.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Trump revealed, “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us,” suggesting diplomatic talks are underway.
When asked by reporters later if he was considering sending US troops to physically retake the base, Trump remained ambiguous: “We won’t talk about that. We want it back and we want it soon. If they don’t give it back, you will find out what I’m going to do.”
The Taliban government in Kabul has not yet issued an official response to Trump’s latest remarks
