Trump administration covertly exerts efforts to seize Afghan base from Taliban for several months, according to sources
In the two decades since Bagram Air Base became the centre of US military power in Afghanistan, its significance has remained undiminished. Situated approximately 500 miles from China's border, the base has been a strategic asset, providing potential for surveillance, access to rare earth elements, and counterterrorism operations.
However, the base fell into Taliban hands following the collapse of the Afghan government and the US military withdrawal in 2021. President Donald Trump has been pushing his national security officials for months to find a way to regain control of the key airfield.
On Thursday, Trump hinted at ongoing discussions about the matter, stating that his administration is working towards this goal. He suggested that the US has leverage over the Taliban and that the Taliban needs things from the US. The extent of any engagement between the US and the Taliban regarding the relinquishing of control of the airfield is not clear.
The base, with its two-mile runway suitable for cargo aircraft, fighter jets, and attack helicopters, has been a target of numerous Taliban attacks over the years. When US troops left the base in July 2021, they removed the equivalent of nearly 900 C-17 cargo loads and destroyed nearly 16,000 pieces of equipment.
The US' decision to leave Bagram meant that Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul would be the only avenue for a possible noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO). In 2023, the State Department released an after-action review of the withdrawal, which found that the US' decision to leave Bagram likely contributed to the chaotic US exit from the country as a whole.
Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump all visited Bagram during their time in office, underscoring its importance as a US military hub. Since 2023, the United States government has sought to negotiate with the Taliban for limited access or use of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan to support counterterrorism operations.
As the negotiations continue, the strategic value of Bagram Air Base remains a significant factor in US foreign policy discussions. The base could potentially serve as a counterterrorism node to target ISIS, establish a diplomatic facility, and even reopen opportunities for mining rare earth elements. The future of Bagram Air Base and its relationship with the Taliban remains a topic of ongoing interest and discussion.
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