Kabul, Apr 7 (UNI) In a surprising development, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan is reported to have handed over the strategic Bagram Air Base to the United States.

Khaama News, quoting a report on Medium, said that a US C-17 aircraft recently landed at the base, bringing military vehicles, equipment, and senior intelligence officials.

Among the reported arrivals is the Deputy Chief of the CIA Michael Ellis, highlighting the strategic significance of the renewed American presence at Bagram.

The development has not been officially confirmed yet.

Last month, US President Donald Trump termed Bagram Air Base as a critical asset for countering China, and reaffirmed his commitment to retrieving the tonnes of US military equipment left behind at the Air Base in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops in August 2021.

During a cabinet meeting, President Trump claimed that the US abandoned billions of dollars in military hardware, including 777,000 rifles and 70,000 armoured vehicles, and asserted that Afghanistan is now one of the world’s largest sellers of military gear.

He criticised the previous US leadership for leaving these assets behind, and stated: “Do you know we give billions of dollars to Afghanistan? And yet we left behind all of that equipment.”

However, Trump stressed that his primary concern is not Afghanistan itself, but China.

“We were going to get out, but we were going to keep Bagram, not because of Afghanistan but because of China, because it’s exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles,” the US president said. “We were going to keep a small force on Bagram.”

He described the airbase as one of the world’s largest, featuring a strong concrete runway capable of handling any aircraft. He claimed, “The United States has lost control of the base, which is now under China’s influence.”

The Taliban have dismissed Trump’s claims that China now controls Bagram Air Base, calling it false.

“Trump claims Bagram is in Chinese hands, but it is under the control of the Islamic Emirate (of Afghanistan),” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid is quoted as saying.

“There is not a single armed Chinese individual here, nor do we have any such agreement. Why spread such misinformation at such a high level? The leader of a major country should speak with accuracy.”

While the Taliban have denied any formal Chinese presence at Bagram, reports indicate that Beijing has expanded its economic and security ties with Afghanistan since the US withdrawal.

China has been deepening its engagement with the Taliban-led government, raising speculation that it may seek a greater strategic role in the country.

Bagram Air Base holds historical importance as the largest US military hub during America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan. After the chaotic US withdrawal in August 2021, the Taliban took control of the base, marking a significant power shift in the region.

The reported handover of the airbase to the US now raises questions about secret diplomacy or a tactical recalibration between the Taliban and US agencies.

The reappearance of senior CIA officials at Bagram implies a potential rebuilding of US intelligence networks in the region.

This sudden development is expected to draw reactions from regional stakeholders such as Iran, China, Russia, and Pakistan — all of whom are closely monitoring US involvement in Central and South Asia.

If confirmed, the return of the US to Bagram, with Taliban cooperation, could signal the beginning of a new chapter in US-Taliban relations — one defined by intelligence sharing amid the evolving regional dynamics.

UNI RN