The Taliban will not accept any form of military intervention on its soil, Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said during a press conference in New Delhi. When asked to respond to US President Donald Trump’s remark on Bagram airbase, Muttaqi said that people of Afghanistan will not “accept” this, adding that anybody willing to build ties with them should come through diplomatic mission and not in “military uniform”.

“Regarding Bagram, I have to say that the people of Afghanistan have never accepted foreign military. And they will not accept going further…” Muttaqi said.

“If someone wants to have ties with us, then they can come through the diplomatic mission, but not in military uniform, that is not acceptable to us…” he added, making it clear that Afghanistan has no intention of giving back the Bagram airbase.

Speaking on strategic Chabahar port, he said India and Afghanistan should talk to the US on sanctions. “India and Afghanistan should have joint talks with the US. It is the need for both of us to use this route. We understand the importance of trade, which has increased, and all trade routes should be open… If the route is closed, it affects trade between India and Afghanistan…” he added.

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What did Trump say on Bagram airbase?

A few weeks ago, Trump said the Taliban should hand over Bagram airbase to the US as it was set up by Washington, threating Kabul of “bad things” if it fails to do so.

“One of the biggest airbases in the world, we gave it to them for nothing. We’re trying to get it back, by the way. That could be a little breaking news,” Trump told reporters at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Giving reason for the demand, he said “it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”

“If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram back to those that built it, the United States of America, bad things are going to happen,” he warned, quoted The Guardian.

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Trump’s Bagram airbase push brings India-Pak-China closer

However, the remark seems to have brough India, Pakistan and China on one page as the three countries jointly called the demand “unacceptable”.

At the 7th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan held in Moscow on Tuesday, the three Asian countries joined Iran, Russia and others and said, “They [countries present at the Moscow Format] called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability.”