The Taliban-led government in Kabul has rejected recent remarks by the United States President Donald Trump, who warned that “bad things” would happen if Afghanistan does not hand back control of the Bagram air base to the United States.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) stressed that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity were non-negotiable. “It has been consistently communicated to the United States in all bilateral negotiations that, for the Islamic Emirate, Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity are of the utmost importance,” the statement read.

The IEA recalled commitments made under the 2020 Doha Agreement, saying Washington had pledged that “it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs.” The group urged the U.S. to remain faithful to those commitments.

Trump, who is serving his second term, has in recent days said the United States is seeking to regain access to Bagram air base, which was vacated in 2021 during the US withdrawal. He has linked the facility’s location to concerns over China’s nuclear program and declined to rule out a possible troop deployment.

Also See: Trump Warns Afghanistan of ‘Bad Things’ if Bagram Air Base Not Handed Back

The IEA statement urged Washington to avoid repeating “past failed approaches” and instead adopt “a policy of realism and rationality.”

Bagram, built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s and expanded by U.S. forces after 2001, served as the largest American military base in Afghanistan for two decades. It was handed over to the former Afghan government weeks before the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.

The Taliban government remains unrecognized by most of the international community, with Russia the only major power to establish diplomatic relations earlier this year. Western states have tied engagement to human rights guarantees, particularly regarding the treatment of women and girls.

Trump’s comments and the IEA’s rejection highlight renewed tensions over Afghanistan’s role in regional security. Analysts say any attempt by the U.S. to re-establish a military presence at Bagram could face not only Taliban opposition but also resistance from Russia, China, and Iran, all of whom have sought to limit Washington’s influence in the region.