Bagram Airbase: No Deal!

It was in 2021 when Allied forces pulled out of Afghanistan, seemingly falling to defeat to the juggernaut of the Taliban onslaught. Under an agreement for peace, the first Trump administration had agreed to pull its forces out of the country. Biden was left to pick up the pieces of this Trump-Taliban Agreement. So the US and Allies rushed to evacuate the country as the Taliban took control. It's been four years since the Allies pulled out, and the Taliban are now in full control of the country.

Sky News conducted an interview with a senior Taliban official, Zabibtullah Majid. Asked whether the Afghans would allow the US to use Bagram Airbase, the official gave a resounding response: "Afghans will never allow their land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances. Mr. Majid admitted that the US and Afghanistan had been holding talks about reopening embassies in each other's capitals. Mr. Majid said, "We have discussed this matter, and we wish to see the embassies reopened both in Kabul and Washington". Mr. Majid explained that: "several countries recognise the Taliban privately". Mr Majid went on: "Russia has recognised the Islamic Emirate" (of Afghanistan).

The Taliban promised to respect women's and girls' rights once they took power. However, the Taliban's words turned out to be disingenuous. Women and girls were stopped from education and working and kept at home. They can only go out when accompanied by a male, either their husband or a relative. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for several top Taliban government officials. Including Supreme Leader Habibtullah Akhundzada for the persecution of women and girls. Even men do not get away with it, though their persecution is certainly less than that of women. Men must keep their beard a certain length, and woe be tide them if they don't!!

Bagram Airbase was a hub of the Allied struggle against the Taliban. All manner of aerial vehicles operated from there. From commercial flights flying in to transport aircraft to attack helicopters and fighter/bombers engaging with the Taliban enemy. The war against the Taliban lasted from 2001 to 2021. After all the money that the West had invested in Afghanistan and all the military personnel killed and wounded in the conflict, the country was left for the Taliban to retake.

Remember, the so-called war on terror started after 9/11 when the US and Its Allies invaded Afghanistan to drive out the Taliban. There then followed a war between NATO and the Taliban. The war was costly for both sides. This war lasted longer than the 1st and 2nd World Wars put together. And what has the West got to show for it? Defeat and the Taliban back in power, even worse than the Taliban government 1.0.

Trump said he wanted to "Take back" Bagram Airbase. Did he or does he intend to take it back by force or by agreement with the Taliban? Obviously, the talks between the two sides about reopening the two capitals, Bagram Airbase, must have been mentioned too. However, as the Taliban spokesman said in the interview, the Taliban must have said a firm no.

The Taliban will be using the Airbase themselves now with the aircraft they have. When the Allies pulled out of Afghanistan, they destroyed or put out of action aircraft. It was not thought that the Taliban would have the technical know-how to repair these aerial vehicles. However, a little while after the Taliban had been in power, they put on a military parade showcasing all the vehicles and equipment they had repaired from what the Allies had left behind. And up above there was a helicopter flying overhead. So the Taliban have got some helicopters and planes working.

The Taliban official said the Afghan economy was on the up. On the up for who exactly? Most of the ordinary people are living below the poverty line. Famines and other natural disasters bedevil the country. Sanctions on the regime and aid agencies not being able to operate properly are also to blame. But the state of the country is also down to the Taliban and their oppressive policies, even though they make excuses or deny it.