New York Monitoring Desk
Russia, Pakistan, China, and Iran have jointly opposed the presence of a U.S. military base in Afghanistan. According to reports, these neighboring countries have demanded that no military airbase should be allowed in the war-torn nation, emphasizing the need to respect Afghanistan’s regional security, sovereignty, and independence.
This statement comes amid remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed that China currently controls the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. Trump asserted that this was the reason the U.S. wanted to maintain control of the base—to keep an eye on China.
Highlighting the strategic importance of Bagram Airbase, Trump described it as one of the world’s largest airbases, featuring a strong concrete runway capable of accommodating all types of aircraft. However, he admitted that the U.S. lost control of the base, which has since come under China’s influence. Trump further said he wanted to keep control of the base because it is located just an hour away from a site where, according to him, China manufactures its nuclear missiles.
Bagram Airbase is located in the Parwan province, about an hour and a half from Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. In August 2021, during the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, U.S. and allied forces withdrew from the country, and control of the Bagram Airbase was handed over to the Taliban government. Senior Taliban officials have repeatedly made it clear that foreign control or interference in any military installations, including Bagram, is unacceptable.
The joint opposition by Russia, Pakistan, China, and Iran underscores the regional consensus against foreign military presence in Afghanistan, emphasizing respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and peace in the region.
