Overview

• President Trump warned on Truth Social that “bad things” would happen if Afghanistan does not hand back Bagram, and he said the United States is talking with Afghanistan about recovering the base.
• Taliban defense chief Fasihuddin Fitrat said any deal to cede even a centimeter of Afghan soil is impossible, and spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged Washington to adopt a policy of realism.
• The administration has not announced military orders, a timetable, or details of the economic and political sanctions Trump threatened.
• Taliban statements and reporting highlight that U.S. threats appear to clash with the Doha commitment not to use or threaten force against Afghanistan's territorial integrity.
• Trump has cited Bagram’s strategic location near China to justify his push, as the base built with Soviet assistance remains under Taliban control following the 2021 U.S. withdrawal.