In the last few weeks, the Afghan media has reported reports about the Taliban, which was handed over to Bagram Air Base in north of Kabul. The original report was made by journalist Zark Shabab. The US C -17 aircraft recently landed on base, brought to military vehicles, equipment and senior intelligence officials, including Deputy Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
It is important to note that the report almost comes on a high-profile US delegation’s high heel shoe of Kabul’s visit to Kabul. Former American Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zalme Khaliljad, and US President Envoy for hostage cases, Adam Boheller, met with Taliban Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muatki on 20 March.
‘Get beyond war’
The statement said that the discussion bilateral relations, focusing on consular services and prisoner exchange for Afghan citizens in the US. Mutaki welcomed the American delegation, called the journey “a positive step towards improving bilateral relations”. They reiterated that the Talibans seek “balanced foreign relations” and “are committed to confusing in a creative way with all sides”. He further stated that both countries should move beyond the results of 20 years of war and build positive political and economic relations “.
The meeting resulted in the release of two American prisoners captive by the Taliban.
This news also follows US President Donald Trump’s first cabinet meeting in his new term. During a discussion on Afghanistan with his Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, Trump said that in his last Afghanistan return plan, his administration was “to keep Bagram … not because of Afghanistan but because of China”. Trump further claimed that China was now occupying it because “Biden left it”, and said, “So, we are going to keep it.” This gives us an idea of what the Bagram Air Base is meant for America.
Why in Bagram cases
Built in the 1950s by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, Bagram is one of the largest airports in the world today, one of the most powerful runways, produced by heavy concrete and steel. After the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, it became an important military center for the Soviet Union, and they expanded it. After the Soviet return in 1989, Aadhaar came under the control of the Moscow -backed government, and later, the Mujahideen administration during the 1990s.
When Americans displaced the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks, American forces captured the airstrip. Bagram was further expanded. A second runway was built, with permanent barracks, gyms, supermarkets and restaurants. It eventually became the largest American military center during the US 20 -year war in Afghanistan. In 2019, Donald Trump visited it to meet American soldiers. Finally, however, in 2021, the Taliban vacated the base after the Doha Agreement signed between the US and the Taliban, just before capturing Kabul. Bagram will serve as the most convenient basis to keep an eye on China, Central Asia and of course, Iran.
Who controls Bagram?
The Taliban has denied these claims, as it denied Trump’s claim that China is controlling the base. China has also denied these claims. However, whatever the Trump administration has not refused, Bagram has claims of American control.
Well -placed sources say it is not uncommon for the Taliban to reject the claims of American control over Bagram. Eventually, it waged an accurate war against the Republican government and American soldiers as they did not want any “foreign soldiers” on the Afghan soil.
However, it is important that the Taliban and American intelligence connect with each other. Recently, a $ 7 billion military hardware issue, leaving behind by American troops in Afghanistan, raised its head; The Trump administration has allegedly demanded its goods, but the Taliban has refused to do so.
Why Taliban wants to talk
In this context, Afghanistan is of great importance from recent high -level American delegation and Taliban freeing American hostages. It is not only for optics that the Taliban has indicated a desire to join the US. There is a good reason to do this. Trump has reversed the restrictions imposed by Biden administration, which banned US authorities from visiting Kabul due to the Taliban due to human rights infection.
On its behalf, by joining the US, the Taliban aims to achieve political validity and achieve access to Afghan’s frozen funds – estimated to around $ 9 billion. Most of this money are held in American banks. Lack of recognition as the Afghan government, while simultaneously in the United Nations and the US terror list, deprives the Taliban’s right to reach these funds. It would also like the US to continue to provide assistance to Afghanistan, Trump has threatened to cancel some. In this context, American recognition will open the possibility of officially recognized by other countries, although many of them are already attached to the Taliban.
Therefore, a secret deal between the US and the Taliban about Bagram is not impossible, given that it provides a good benefit for both.
No reward for Haqqani
Here, the recent Act of Trump Administration, to raise the reward for the possession of Sirjuddin Hakni, is the head of the Haqqani group within the Taliban, educators. It also indicates another layer of complexity in the complex web of Afghan politics. The Haqqani network has a complex relationship with Taliban’s Kandahar Shura, headed by Mulla Hibatullah Akhundzade. For some time, differences between the two have boiled, Sirjuddin Hakni spends time away from Afghanistan. Recently, US authorities met with Sirjuddin in the UAE – not Doha, where the Taliban has its own representative office. Subsequently, the US announced that it was raising the prize on three senior Taliban leaders, all related to the Haqqani network, including Sirjuddin.
The US delegation’s hosting of the Taliban and the release of the American hostages followed these tricks by Sirjuddin Hakni, which is believed to have harassed Kandahar Shura. Against this labyrinth functioning of Afghan politics, American weapons are demanding control of handover or garden. Given the stressful situation of the Taliban, Tehrak-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISIS-KP, and even within the Taliban, deteriorated due to muscle-flexing by the groups-a deal on a deal with a difficult conflict with a difficult conflict with a-Pakistan is completely possible.
(The author is a journalist and political analyst)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author
