Taliban say Afghanistan ‘will never’ hand over Bagram

A senior Taliban official on Tuesday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s demand that Kabul hand back Bagram air base, insisting the facility is an inseparable part of Afghanistan.

1news.media reports speaking to Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview, chief Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: “Bagram is part of Afghanistan’s territory. It is no different from any other piece of Afghan land. We will never agree to bargain away or hand over any part of our country.”

He added that “Afghans are extremely sensitive about occupation, and no Afghan will ever allow their land to be taken or controlled by outsiders – not even an inch.”

"The Americans should not forget that bad actions trigger bad reactions. In the end, they were forced to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan. Afghanistan is not a country that can be occupied or subdued. They should engage with Afghans politically, diplomatically, and rationally,” Mujahid said.

For reference, US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened Afghanistan with unspecified punishment if the Taliban-controlled country did not “give Bagram Airbase back.”