Overview
- Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghans will never hand over their land under any circumstances, rejecting any U.S. return to Bagram.
- President Trump warned on Sept. 20 in a Truth Social post that “bad things are going to happen” if Afghanistan does not give the air base back.
- Bagram, once the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan, has housed captured American vehicles and weapons that the Taliban now display during parades and visits.
- Mujahid confirmed discussions with the United States about reopening embassies in Kabul and Washington, while stressing there is no agreement on military cooperation or base control.
- Truthdig reports China accredited a Taliban ambassador in 2023 and hosted a 2025 Wang Yi visit, as analysts say regional powers would resist any renewed U.S. military presence.