Kabul: US President Donald Trump Wants to Recapture Bagram Airbase
Kabul: US President Donald Trump has announced that US forces want to return to Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. Trump claimed that now China controls Bagram Airbase.
🔹 Trump had earlier said that he intends to deploy US forces again at Bagram Airbase.
🔹 He said, 'We are going to keep a small army at Bagram Airbase to reduce the growing influence of China.'
🔹 Trump said that we want to recapture Bagram Airbase not because of Afghanistan but because of China.
On the other hand, the Taliban has rejected Trump's claim of China's occupation. Let’s explore why Trump wants to capture Bagram Airbase and what its connection with the Taliban is…
Why is Bagram Airbase So Important?
According to the Eurasia Times report, Afghanistan's Bagram Airbase is just 1 hour away from China's nuclear base, and that is why this base is very important for America from a strategic point of view.
🔸 America can monitor China from here.
🔸 Trump was reportedly angry with America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
🔸 During the election campaign, Trump had said that he would recapture Bagram Airbase.
The Taliban has strongly rejected Trump's claim of China's occupation of Bagram Airbase. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid dismissed it as 'emotional' and said that it is based on misinformation. He claimed that there are no Chinese soldiers in Afghanistan.
Bagram Airbase: A Historic Military Base
Bagram Airbase is a strategically very important airbase.
🔹 Located in Afghanistan's Parwan province, it was the largest military base of the US Army for about 2 decades.
🔹 Trump described it as one of the largest airbases in the world and one of the most powerful runways.
🔹 Originally built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s during the Cold War.
🔹 After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, it became the main base for the Russian army.
🔹 In 2001, after the US invasion of Afghanistan, America captured Bagram Airbase.
In December 2001, America built a prison inside Bagram Airbase, which came to be known as Afghanistan's Guantanamo Jail.
🔸 Here, the CIA interrogated Al Qaeda terrorists in a very cruel manner.
🔸 The US expanded the base to 30 square miles, accommodating about 10,000 American soldiers.
🔸 Facilities like swimming pools, cinemas, spas, and restaurants like Burger King were built inside the base.
Trump initiated the withdrawal of troops in February 2020, but it was implemented during Biden's administration.
🔹 Currently, the Taliban army possesses US military weapons worth about $7 billion.
🔹 This includes around 800,000 rifles and 70,000 armored trucks.
China’s Growing Influence in Afghanistan
After the US withdrawal, China is rapidly increasing its influence inside Afghanistan.
🔸 In 2023, Chinese companies signed multiple agreements in Afghanistan.
🔸 China denies having military presence in Afghanistan but seeks control over its lithium reserves, oil, and minerals.
🔸 China wants Afghanistan to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
China is also trying to bring the Taliban to its side to help control the Uighur rebels.
🔹 Recently, some Chinese military officials visited the Wakhan Corridor, which directly connects China to Afghanistan.
🔹 Pakistan is also interested in this corridor.
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