Taliban Assures Russia That There Will Be No Foreign Military Bases in Afghanistan

Amir Khan Muttaki, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, stated that the government will not allow the establishment of foreign military bases on its territory.

Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President’s special representative for Afghanistan, reported this, according to Ariana News. He referred to Muttaki’s words voiced during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Kabulov also added that Russia has no plans to establish military bases in Afghanistan or neighboring countries. According to him, Lavrov categorically opposed such deployment.

In September, Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Zakir Jalal said that the return of the US military presence was “completely” rejected during the Doha talks.

This was a reaction to the words of US President Donald Trump. He expressed a desire to “return” the Bagram air base.

At a press conference in the United Kingdom, Trump claimed that the United States “gave the base away for nothing.” He hinted at returning it because “they need things from us.”

Bagram was the center of NATO forces in Afghanistan for almost 20 years. It was handed over to the Afghan military shortly before the Taliban came to power.