Russia Warns U.S. Over Trump’s Demand to Seize Bagram Airbase

(dawatmedia24.com):Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has issued a stark warning to Washington over reported demands by former U.S. President Donald Trump that the Taliban hand over Bagram airbase, once America’s largest military facility in Afghanistan. Kabulov cautioned that any attempt to retake Bagram would end in disaster, describing it as an operation with “catastrophic consequences.”

“Afghans are a people deeply accustomed to war,” Kabulov said, “and they will fiercely resist any foreign intervention.” He stressed that Washington should learn from history and avoid miscalculations that could reignite a protracted conflict in the region.

Trump, who has frequently criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the 2021 withdrawal, has repeatedly insisted that the Taliban must surrender Bagram immediately. He has gone as far as warning that “bad things will happen” if the group refuses. For Trump, Bagram symbolizes what he sees as a squandered American strategic asset—one he believes could be used to contain both terrorism and regional adversaries like China and Iran.

The Taliban, however, reacted with defiance. The group’s army chief declared that Afghans had “fought well to defend their independence” and would never allow foreign powers to reclaim Afghan soil. Echoing this stance, Tajmir Jawad, the Taliban’s deputy intelligence chief—long accused by U.S. officials of orchestrating suicide bombings—vowed that the group would not hesitate to resume suicide operations if pressed. “We will defend our sovereignty at any cost,” Jawad reportedly said.

The escalating rhetoric underscores how Afghanistan remains a strategic flashpoint nearly four years after the U.S. withdrawal. For Washington, Bagram represents lost influence and a potential staging ground for counterterrorism operations. For the Taliban, it is a hard-won symbol of victory after two decades of war.

Analysts note that Trump’s aggressive stance is driven partly by domestic politics and his efforts to portray himself as tougher on terrorism than his successor. Yet Kabulov’s intervention reflects Moscow’s broader concerns: that a renewed U.S. military confrontation in Afghanistan could destabilize the region, embolden jihadist groups, and erode U.S. credibility on the world stage.

For now, Bagram stands as more than a military installation—it is a symbol of clashing visions for Afghanistan’s future, a reminder of America’s longest war, and a potential trigger for new instability if Washington and Kabul’s rulers continue down the path of confrontation.

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