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India has now aligned with the Taliban, Pakistan, China, and Russia in opposing the U.S. President Donald Trump’s bid to regain control of the Bagram air base in Afghanistan. The announcement comes days ahead of the scheduled visit of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi, a historic first for a senior Taliban diplomat.
What the countries said?
The seventh meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan took place in Moscow, attended by special representatives and senior officials from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with Belarus present as a guest.
A joint statement issued by the participants said, “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.” While Bagram was not explicitly named, the message was widely seen as directed at Trump’s demand.
The statement also noted that the Afghan delegation, led by Muttaqi, participated in the consultation for the first time as a full member.
Trump demands Bagram, Taliban rejects
Trump has repeatedly called for Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to hand over Bagram, nearly five years after a 2020 deal paved the way for the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul. At a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 18 September, he stated, “We gave it to [the Taliban] for nothing. We want that base back.” Two days later, he warned on Truth Social, “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram air base back to those that built it, the United States of America, bad things are going to happen!”
The Taliban, however, have firmly rejected the request. Chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, “Afghans will never allow their land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances.”
Why Trump wants Bagram?
The Bagram air base, located about 50 km from Kabul, is Afghanistan’s largest military airfield, featuring two concrete runways of 3 km and 3.6 km. Its strategic location and infrastructure make it a key stronghold for controlling Afghan airspace, particularly in the country’s rugged terrain. Bagram played a central role in the U.S.-led “war on terror” after 2001.
The Moscow Format statement reaffirmed support for an independent, united, and peaceful Afghanistan, emphasising counter-terrorism cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels. Participants urged comprehensive measures to eliminate terrorism and prevent Afghan soil from being used as a regional or global security threat, a reference that reflects India’s concerns regarding Pakistan.
The statement also highlighted economic cooperation, humanitarian support, and regional connectivity, signalling India’s interest in projects such as Chabahar port in Iran to facilitate access to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Muttaqi’s visit to New Delhi, scheduled from 9 to 16 October, is the first by a sanctioned Taliban official since UNSC Resolution 1988 (2011) placed restrictions on Taliban leaders. The UN Security Council granted special permission for the trip.
