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A coalition of countries including China, Russia, and India has released a joint statement opposing any foreign military presence in Afghanistan after Trump made calls for the US to “take back” Bagram Airbase.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, Bagram Airbase was one of the most strategically important military installations operated by the United States during its 20-year presence in Afghanistan. Located roughly 31 miles north of Kabul in Parwan province, it served as the primary hub for US air operations, drone strikes, intelligence gathering, logistics, and counterterrorism missions. The base featured two long concrete runways capable of handling large military aircraft, fortified facilities, and accommodations for thousands of troops. After being handed over to Afghan forces in July 2021 under the US withdrawal agreement brokered by then-President Donald Trump, Bagram quickly fell into Taliban hands during their rapid takeover when Biden was in office. Trump now argues that the US must retake the base due to its proximity to China’s Xinjiang province, which is home to key Chinese nuclear weapons infrastructure.

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What’s going on now: In a notable development, China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, and several Central Asian nations (including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) issued a joint statement firmly rejecting any attempt by the United States to re-establish a military presence in Afghanistan or nearby states. The announcement came during the 7th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, a regional security dialogue hosted in Moscow and attended by senior officials and special representatives from 10 nations.

The countries said that “the deployment of military infrastructure of third countries in Afghanistan and neighboring states is unacceptable,” adding that such actions “do not serve the interests of regional peace and stability.” Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was even more explicit during the talks, warning that “any extra-regional military presence in the region will only bring new risks of destabilization.”

These comments came after Trump’s public warnings, including his recent statement on Truth Social where he warned that if Afghanistan doesn’t return Bagram, “bad things are going to happen.” The Taliban, now governing Afghanistan, also doubled down on their opposition. Speaking at the same forum, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said, “Afghanistan is a free and independent country, and throughout history, it has never accepted the military presence of foreigners.” He added, “Our decision and policy will remain the same — to keep Afghanistan free and independent.”

There has been no comment from the United States.

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