Bagram Airbase, once the center of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, has been a focal point of strategic, political, and military significance. Located in Parwan province, it served as the primary logistics and operations hub for U.S. and NATO forces throughout the two-decade-long military engagement in Afghanistan. However, the departure of U.S. forces in 2021 and the subsequent takeover of the base by the Taliban has raised a series of critical questions regarding the future of this strategically important location and the larger implications for U.S. foreign policy and Afghanistan’s stability.
According to a report by journalist Zark Shabab on Medium, the Taliban has allegedly handed over control of Bagram Air Base to the United States. U.S. military aircraft, including a C-17, reportedly landed at the base, delivering military equipment and senior intelligence officials. The arrival of high-ranking CIA figures, such as the Deputy Chief, suggests significant U.S. intelligence interests in the region. This move has raised questions about possible secret diplomacy or strategic shifts in U.S.-Taliban relations.
Bagram’s Strategic Importance and Taliban’s Initial Refusal
Bagram Air Base was the largest U.S. military hub during the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan, and its control shifted when the Taliban seized it following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in August 2021. The Taliban had initially refused to return the base, considering it a symbol of their sovereignty. However, recent reports suggest a possible handover to the U.S., raising speculations about the motives behind this shift, including potential counterterrorism cooperation or political maneuvering by the Taliban.
In a recent statement, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, rejected reports of a U.S. military C-17 aircraft landing at Bagram Airbase. Mujahid called these reports “propaganda” aimed at misleading the public. He emphasized that the Taliban would not permit any foreign military presence in Afghanistan, stressing that there was no current need for such presence.
Mujahid’s comments came in response to widespread report and rumors circulating on social media and some media outlets suggesting that U.S. forces were returning to Bagram. He categorically denied these claims, reinforcing the Taliban’s stance on sovereignty and non-interference. “Such an event is impossible,” he said.
The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, especially the handover of Bagram Airbase, remains a major issue in foreign policy discussions. Critics argue that the U.S. misjudged the Taliban’s strength, allowing them to gain critical military resources and raising questions about the need for continued U.S. presence in the region.
The Taliban’s control of Bagram and their denial of U.S. reentry highlight the shifting dynamics in Afghanistan. This development has wider implications for regional security and international relations, challenging global responses to the situation.
The reported handover of Bagram to the U.S. is likely to have significant geopolitical implications, especially for regional powers like Iran, China, Russia, and Pakistan. The presence of CIA officials at Bagram suggests a rebuilding of U.S. intelligence networks, which may indicate a new chapter in U.S.-Taliban relations. Analysts suggest this move could signal an evolving cooperation between the two parties, driven by pragmatism, regional security concerns, and intelligence coordination.
Hellbound and Down 