Why does Trump want Afghanistan’s Bagram airport back and India opposes this demand? Explained

India joined the Taliban, Pakistan, China and Russia in rejecting United States President Donald Trump’s demand to take back control of Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase in a surprise move earlier this week.

This stance emerged during the seventh meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan held in the Russian capital on October 7. It was attended by representatives of Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with Belarus participating as a guest.

While not explicitly naming Bagram, the nations united on the issue and issued a joint statement saying, “They (participants) described efforts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighboring states as unacceptable, as it does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability.”

The comments were widely seen as aimed at Trump’s renewed effort to win back the base.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki joined the forum for the first time as a full member and represented the Taliban government.

He is also on a visit to India from October 9 to 16, the first official visit by a Taliban minister to India since the group returned to power in 2021.

Trump’s renewed demand for Bagram

Trump has consistently argued that the US should regain control of Bagram Air Base, nearly five years after the signing of the 2020 agreement that led to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Read more: India upgrades technical mission in Kabul to embassy; Afghanistan invites companies to explore mining

During a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on September 18, Trump said, “We gave it (to the Taliban) for nothing. We want that base back.”

A few days later, he warned on his Truth social platform, “If Afghanistan does not return Bagram Air Base to its creators, the United States, bad things are going to happen!”

However, the Taliban has strongly rejected this request.

Chief spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said, “Afghans will not allow their land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances.”

Why does Bagram matter?

Located about 50 kilometers north of Kabul, Bagram is Afghanistan’s largest and most strategically important military base.

It has two runways measuring 3 km and 3.6 km, making it one of the few sites in the country capable of accommodating large aircraft.

Read more: Who are the Indian nationals among the 50 entities sanctioned by the US for helping Iran’s energy trade?

Its location and infrastructure reportedly made it a central operational hub during the US-led “War on Terror” after 2001.

Moscow Format participants reaffirmed support for an “independent, united and peaceful” Afghanistan and called for increased “anti-terrorism cooperation.”

The statement also stressed economic engagement and regional connectivity, highlighting India’s continued interest in projects such as Iran’s Chabahar port for access to Afghanistan.