Islamabad — The Taliban have dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertions that China controls Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base, labeling his statements as “emotional” and lacking evidence. Bagram Air Base, located approximately 44 kilometers north of Kabul, served as the central hub for U.S. and NATO military operations during their two-decade presence in Afghanistan until their withdrawal in August 2021.
In a recent interview with Afghanistan’s state-run television RTA, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid refuted Trump’s claims, stating, “Bagram is controlled by the Islamic Emirate [Taliban regime], not China. Chinese troops are not present here, nor do we have any such pact with any country.” He urged Trump’s advisors to correct his information regarding Afghanistan.
Trump had alleged that China’s People’s Liberation Army currently occupies Bagram, criticizing the Biden administration for relinquishing control of the base. He argued that retaining Bagram was strategic due to its proximity to areas where China purportedly develops nuclear missiles.
Addressing concerns about U.S. military equipment left behind after the withdrawal, Mujahid clarified that these weapons were inherited from the previous U.S.-backed Afghan government and are now considered “spoils of war.” He emphasized that the Taliban utilizes this equipment to defend Afghanistan and would resist any attempts to reclaim it. Mujahid also suggested that if the U.S. seeks the return of its military assets, Afghanistan would expect substantial war reparations for the hardships endured over the past two decades.
A U.S. Department of Defense report indicates that from 2005 to 2021, approximately $18.6 billion worth of equipment was provided to Afghan forces, with about $7 billion remaining in the country following the U.S. withdrawal. This inventory includes aircraft, vehicles, weapons, and other military hardware.
Former U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, John Sopko, has deemed efforts to retrieve this equipment as “pointless,” noting that much of it has been destroyed or is no longer operational. He highlighted that the cost of retrieval would likely surpass the equipment’s current value.
