Afghanistan’s Neighbors Unite in Opposition to Potential US Return to Bagram Airbase

In a significant display of regional consensus, Afghanistan’s neighbors, including nominal U.S. allies, have voiced unified opposition to any plan for the United States to re-establish a military presence at the strategic Bagram Air Base. The collective stance emerged from the “Moscow Format” consultations, a diplomatic gathering that for the first time featured the Taliban’s top diplomat as a central participant.

The meeting, hosted by Russia, brought together ten key regional players: Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and five Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. While India and Pakistan are U.S. partners, their alignment with rivals like Russia and China on this issue underscores a rare moment of geopolitical unity centered on preventing renewed Western military engagement in Afghanistan.

Although a joint statement released by Russia’s foreign ministry did not explicitly name the United States or Bagram, its language was a clear rebuke of recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly advocated for retaking the base.

“The participants called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighboring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability,” the statement declared, directly endorsing the Taliban administration’s official position on the matter.

Taliban Reiterates Absolute Opposition to Foreign Forces

At a press conference in Moscow, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi seized the diplomatic opportunity to frame his administration as the guardian of Afghan sovereignty.

“Afghanistan is a free and independent country, and throughout history, it has never accepted the military presence of foreigners. Our decision and policy will remain the same to keep Afghanistan free and independent,” Muttaqi stated, echoing a core tenet of the Taliban’s ideology.

The U.S. Department of State did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Moscow statement.

A Base Steeped in Recent History

The focus on Bagram is deeply symbolic. The massive airfield, located just north of Kabul, was the epicenter of U.S. and NATO military operations for nearly two decades. It was from Bagram that the U.S. military began its withdrawal in July 2021, a prelude to the Taliban’s lightning-fast takeover of the country weeks later. The base now stands as a stark reminder of both the Western military footprint and its chaotic conclusion.

Former President Trump’s recent comments have thrust Bagram back into the spotlight. Last month, he suggested that “bad things” would happen to Afghanistan if it did not return the base to U.S. control, citing its strategic location near China as a key asset.

A Logistical and Political Minefield

However, current and former U.S. officials and military analysts have expressed profound skepticism about the feasibility of Trump’s goal. Reoccupying Bagram would be a monumental undertaking, tantamount to a re-invasion. Military planners estimate it would require a force of over 10,000 troops just to secure and operate the base, along with the deployment of advanced air defense systems to protect against potential threats. Such a move would almost certainly reignite armed conflict with the Taliban, undoing the withdrawal that was a key promise of the Trump and Biden administrations.

Regional Calculus: Stability Over Alliance

The unified opposition from the Moscow Format members reflects a complex set of regional priorities that transcend traditional alliances.

• China and Russia view any permanent U.S. military presence in their strategic backyards as a direct threat to their influence and a potential platform for intelligence gathering. Both powers have moved to engage with the Taliban government, prioritizing counter-terrorism and economic stability over ideological differences.

• Iran, a long-time adversary of the U.S., vehemently opposes any return of American forces to its eastern border.

• Pakistan and India, while often at odds, share a concern that renewed conflict in Afghanistan would spill over their borders, exacerbating terrorism threats and regional instability.

• Central Asian Nations, particularly Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, fear the consequences of a new war in Afghanistan, including a fresh wave of refugees and increased militant activity.

This collective stance signals that despite their individual grievances with the Taliban, regional powers are united in a single objective: preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a theater for great power competition and conflict. The Moscow Format’s statement is a clear warning to Washington that any move toward Bagram would be met with formidable and unified regional resistance.

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