 "'Unacceptable': Was India hinting at US attempts to take control of Afghanistan's Bagram air base?")
In a surprising development, India has joined the Taliban, Pakistan, China, and Russia in opposing US President Donald Trump’s demand to take control of Afghanistan’s Bagram air base.
The decision comes just days ahead of the historic visit of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India later this week.
While the statement did not explicitly mention Bagram, a sharply worded joint declaration from the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan stated, “They called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability.”
Although the wording is not entirely new, it carries particular significance given US efforts to gain control over Bagram.
Moscow Format meeting with Afghan delegation strength
The seventh Moscow Format meeting was held in Moscow, attended by senior officials and special representatives from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Belarus also attended as a guest.
For the first time, the Afghan delegation, led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, participated in the meeting as a full member.
Trump demands Bagram, Taliban reject
Trump has demanded that the Taliban hand over the Bagram air base to the US, five years after the original agreement that facilitated the US withdrawal from Kabul.
Speaking at a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 18 September, Trump said the US was “trying to get (Bagram) back,” describing it as a base “given to the Taliban for nothing.”
He later warned on Truth Social that “bad things are going to happen” if Afghanistan does not return the base.
The Taliban firmly rejected the demand, with chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid declaring, “Afghans will never allow their land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIndia’s opposition to Trump’s plan comes just ahead of Muttaqi’s first-ever visit to the country, marking a historic engagement for a Taliban foreign minister.
Strategic importance of Bagram
Located around 50 km from Kabul, Bagram is Afghanistan’s largest air base, featuring two concrete runways measuring 3.6 km and 3 km.
The country’s rugged, mountainous terrain leaves few suitable sites for landing large military aircraft, making Bagram strategically vital. The base played a central role in the US “war on terror” after 2001.
Call for peace and counter-terrorism
The Moscow Format statement also reaffirmed support for an independent, united, and peaceful Afghanistan. It called for stronger counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels and stressed that Afghanistan should ensure its soil is not used to threaten neighbouring countries or beyond.
The statement emphasised that terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to Afghanistan, the region, and the wider world, serving as a clear signal from India to Pakistan regarding regional security.
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