Key Meeting Between Hibatullah Akhundzada and Senior Taliban Leaders on Bagram Base
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency, Afghan sources told al mayadeen that Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, has called senior Taliban figures to Kandahar for consultations about Bagram Air Base.
The sources stated that a meeting is scheduled in the coming days, with Akhundzada specifically requesting the presence of several senior taliban leaders.
they added that Akhundzada had previously discussed Trump’s demand for reclaiming Bagram Air Base with some ministers and the head of the Taliban Supreme Court but wishes to hold a broader discussion on this issue.
The efforts lead by former U.S. President donald trump to regain control over Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan-after American forces withdrew in 2021-remain complex and multifaceted. Trump’s interest in Bagram stems from its important geopolitical leverage.
In remarks made on September 18,Trump described the 2021 withdrawal as a free gift to the Taliban and said: “We are trying to get it back. They need things from us.”
This echoed statements from his election campaign accusing the Biden administration of abandoning a critical asset capable of monitoring China’s activities.
Bagram Air base,located in Parwan province,Afghanistan,has symbolized long-term foreign military presence and served as a key node within regional and international security networks. Established in the 1950s during Soviet influence expansion aimed at supporting Afghanistan’s government at that time, it witnessed significant past events including Soviet occupation and subsequent civil wars.
After September 11 attacks, bagram quickly became one of America’s most vital military bases in Afghanistan due to its strategic location near Kabul and easy access across various parts of the country. It functioned as an essential hub for military operations, logistics, intelligence gathering alongside NATO forces’ anti-terrorism missions, training Afghan security personnel as well as diplomatic and development support missions.
bagram also operated as an critically important transit point for moving troops and equipment into and out of Afghanistan. Losing control over this base was not only considered losing a valuable military asset by Washington but also signified diminished influence over regional developments.
