In a bold statement released on Saturday, former President Donald Trump demanded that the Taliban return Bagram Air Base to the United States, cautioning that failure to do so could lead to unspecified "BAD THINGS." Trump's post on Truth Social underscores his ongoing critique of the Biden administration's handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Bagram Air Base, a pivotal military site during America's 20-year campaign against the Taliban and Al Qaeda, fell into the hands of the Taliban following President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw U.S. forces in August 2021. The base's strategic value, emphasized by Trump, stems from its proximity to Chinese nuclear weapon production facilities. According to Trump, as reported by the Daily Mail, Bagram is merely an hour away from these critical sites.
The former president has been vocal in his disapproval of the pullout, which resulted in millions of dollars' worth of military equipment being abandoned and subsequently seized by the Taliban. Trump's assertions about Bagram's importance are not without merit; however, experts warn that recapturing the base would necessitate a significant military operation. A former U.S. official, speaking to Reuters, estimated that over 10,000 troops would be required to secure and maintain the base effectively.
The challenges of reclaiming Bagram extend beyond troop numbers. The base would need extensive repairs, resupplying, and a defense perimeter robust enough to repel rocket attacks. Currently, there are no active plans to retake Bagram, and the feasibility of Trump's suggestion that the U.S. could regain control with Taliban consent remains uncertain.
Even if the Taliban were to allow U.S. forces back into Bagram, the base would still be at risk from ISIS, Al Qaeda, and other terrorist factions in Afghanistan. Moreover, there is the threat of Iranian missile strikes, as evidenced by Iran's attack on a U.S. air base in Qatar last June.
A former senior U.S. defense official has expressed skepticism about the military advantages of Bagram, noting that the risks might not justify the benefits. Trump has continued to criticize Biden for the chaotic nature of the withdrawal, particularly highlighting the tragic ISIS-K suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on August 26, 2021, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and over 170 Afghan civilians.
During his presidency, Trump negotiated a withdrawal agreement with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, which initially set a May 1, 2021, deadline for U.S. troop departure. Biden adhered to the agreement but extended the deadline to August 31, 2021, marking the official end of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.
