President Donald Trump has escalated calls for the United States to reclaim the strategically vital Bagram Airbase from Taliban control, amid ongoing negotiations that could redefine American involvement in Afghanistan.
US President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday, 18 September, 2025, during a press conference in London that his administration is actively negotiating to regain control of Bagram Airbase in Parwan province, Afghanistan, which was abandoned by American forces in July 2021. The remarks, made alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, highlighted regrets over the withdrawal and the base’s proximity to Chinese nuclear facilities, just one hour away. Talks, focused initially on detained Americans, involve Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler and former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who met Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul on Saturday, 13 September, 2025.
Why It Matters
The push for Bagram Airbase carries profound implications for South Asia, where renewed US military presence could bolster counter-terrorism efforts but strain relations with Pakistan and India, potentially escalating regional tensions over sovereignty and influence in Afghanistan. As the Taliban consolidates power, any deal risks destabilising fragile borders and humanitarian aid flows, underscoring the delicate balance of security and diplomacy across the subcontinent.
Trump’s Renewed Focus on Bagram Airbase Trump 2025
President Trump’s comments mark a significant escalation in his administration’s approach to Afghanistan, four years after the chaotic US withdrawal that left Bagram Airbase—the largest US facility in the country during two decades of conflict—in Taliban hands. Speaking to reporters at 2:30 PM local time in London, Trump criticised the 2021 handover as “the most embarrassing day in the history of our country”, emphasising that during his first term, he had reduced US troop numbers to 5,000 while planning to retain the base.
“We’re trying to get it back,” Trump stated, adding that the US had “gave it to the Taliban for nothing”. He underscored Bagram’s strategic value, noting its 3.6-kilometre runway capable of handling bombers and large cargo aircraft, and its location north of Kabul, built originally by the Soviet Union in the 1950s. Trump linked the effort to broader geopolitical concerns, describing the base as “exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles”, suggesting a motive to counter Beijing’s regional expansion.
The remarks follow a pattern in Trump talks Afghanistan Bagram, with the president having expressed similar intentions since March 2025. However, US officials have clarified that no active military planning is underway to seize the facility, with the Department of Defense stating it remains “always ready to execute any mission at the president’s direction”. Congressional Democrats, including Representative Adam Smith, have voiced concerns, labelling the rhetoric “deeply troubling” and questioning its feasibility.
Trump Talks Afghanistan Bagram: Key Negotiations Unfold
The latest developments stem from high-level meetings in Kabul, where Boehler and Khalilzad engaged Taliban counterparts on humanitarian issues. The Saturday, 13 September, 2025, session with Muttaqi centred on American citizens detained in Afghanistan, a priority for the Trump administration, which has secured releases from various nations since taking office. Taliban officials released photographs of the discussions, showing Muttaqi with the US envoys, but emphasised that talks were limited to detainees.
Zakir Jalaly, a Taliban Foreign Ministry official, responded to Trump’s overtures via social media, stating that “Afghanistan and the U.S. need to interact with each other and can have economic and political relations based on mutual respect and common interests”, while firmly rejecting any military presence. This aligns with the Taliban’s longstanding position, reiterated in Doha agreements, against foreign troops on Afghan soil.
Reports suggest the negotiations could expand beyond hostages to include economic incentives and security pacts. According to the Taliban Foreign Ministry, discussions touched on potential prisoner exchanges and trade deals, though details remain sparse. Zalmay Khalilzad, who brokered the 2020 Doha accord, has indicated optimism for phased progress.
Opposition voices within Afghanistan have been vocal. Abdul Salam Zaeef, former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, dismissed the prospect of any deal, asserting that “no government in Afghanistan can make such agreements” and framing US intentions as preparations for broader conflict, potentially “World War III”. Political analyst Sayed Akbar Sial Wardak echoed these sentiments, warning of sovereignty violations.
Background: The Legacy of Bagram Airbase
Bagram Airbase served as the nerve centre for NATO operations from 2001 to 2021, housing up to 40,000 troops at its peak and facilitating operations against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Its abandonment in July 2021, ahead of the full US pullout, led to reports of looting and minimal subsequent activity, as confirmed by satellite imagery analysis up to 2025. The base symbolised American power projection in South Asia, but its handover exacerbated the Taliban’s swift takeover of Kabul.
Under Trump talks Afghanistan Bagram in earlier years, the president negotiated the Doha framework, aiming for a dignified exit while preserving strategic assets. The Biden administration’s completion of the withdrawal, however, fulfilled the timeline without retaining Bagram, a decision Trump has repeatedly decried. Recent intelligence assessments highlight China’s growing interest in Afghan minerals, adding urgency to the Bagram Airbase Trump 2025 initiative.
What’s Next for Bagram Airbase Trump 2025
As negotiations progress, the US may leverage sanctions or aid packages to incentivise Taliban concessions, though experts caution that military reoccupation could require over 10,000 troops and advanced defences, resembling a de facto reinvasion. Taliban leaders, including Deputy Minister Muhajer Farahi, have signalled cultural resistance through poetic critiques on social platforms, but practical hurdles—such as infrastructure decay at Bagram—persist.
The trajectory of Bagram Airbase Trump 2025 will hinge on hostage resolutions, with potential for joint counter-terrorism if trust builds. Yet, with the Taliban prioritising sovereignty, sustained diplomacy appears essential to avoid escalation in this volatile corner of South Asia.
In the evolving landscape of Trump talks Afghanistan Bagram, these overtures signal a potential pivot in US policy, balancing redemption for past withdrawals with the realities of a Taliban-led Afghanistan.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, September 21st, 2025
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