The Taliban have flatly rejected Donald Trump’s demand to return control of Bagram Air Base to the United States, saying that the idea of restoring foreign presence there is unacceptable. Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Staff of the Afghan Armed Forces, made the remarks on Sunday in Kabul, stressing that Afghanistan is fully independent and governed by its own people. He said the return of any part of Afghan territory to a foreign power is simply not on the table.

In recent days, Trump has ramped up pressure on the Taliban, warning of “bad things” if his request was ignored. In a post on Truth Social, he asserted that the United States built Bagram and should take it back, hinting at potential consequences if the base remains out of reach .The base—about 40 miles north of Kabul—was once the linchpin of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan after 9/11. It served not only as a tactical hub, but also housed support facilities ranging from hospitals to fuel depots, and even recreational amenities for troops.  After the U.S. withdrawal in July 2021, which followed agreements made under Trump’s administration and carried forward by President Biden, control of Bagram was handed over to Afghan authorities.

Trump has portrayed the base issue as evidence of failure by his political successors, arguing that U.S. military assets and infrastructure were abandoned.

But the Taliban’s response was resolute: any negotiation “for even an inch” of Afghan soil is off-limits. Fitrat warned that if the U.S. tries to reclaim the air base, Afghanistan would respond—firmly.