Taliban Rejects Reports of Handing Over Bagram Air Base to the U.S.

According to Rokna, the Taliban’s spokesman, responding to a question regarding U.S. remarks about reclaiming the Bagram Air Base, stated that the people of Afghanistan will never allow their land to be surrendered, though talks are underway with the United States concerning the reopening of the two countries’ embassies.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, dismissed claims of any negotiations over the transfer of Bagram to U.S. forces, clarifying that the only talks under way involve the reopening of diplomatic missions in both capitals.

Speaking to Sky News, Mujahid reiterated that “the Afghan people will never allow their homeland to be given away under any conditions.” He confirmed that discussions with the U.S. have taken place “regarding the reopening of the Afghan Embassy in Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul,” adding that “we are interested in restoring these diplomatic channels.”

Earlier, former U.S. President Donald Trump, during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, said Washington was seeking to reclaim control of Bagram Air Base from the Taliban. He noted that part of his motivation stemmed from the base’s proximity to a Chinese site allegedly involved in nuclear weapons production, expressing regret that the U.S. lost control of Bagram during the withdrawal under President Joe Biden.

According to British media reports, in the four years since the Taliban’s return to power, Russia remains the only country to have officially recognized the group’s government.

Mujahid rejected the notion that the Taliban lacks legitimacy, saying: “It is not only Russia that recognizes the Islamic Emirate. Other countries have also expressed recognition—though not publicly.”

However, the Taliban spokesman declined to give assurances about when Afghan girls would be allowed to return to school, saying, “I cannot make any promises in this regard.”

When the Taliban first came to power, the Ministry of Education announced that the closure of girls’ schools would be temporary, promising reopening once new policies ensuring adherence to “Islamic principles and Afghan cultural values” were established.

48-Hour Nationwide Internet Outage Raises Questions

Sky News also reported that Afghanistan recently experienced a 48-hour nationwide internet blackout, disrupting banks, airlines, and mobile users across the country.

When asked whether the Taliban government had ordered the shutdown, Mujahid said he was unaware of the cause, noting: “We have received no official communication from the Ministry of Communications and are not in a position to provide an explanation.”

One Afghan internet service provider, however, claimed in an email that the outage occurred under government orders. Human rights activists also condemned the blackout as a form of censorship, arguing that it disproportionately harms Afghan women and girls who continue their education online.

The outage followed earlier restrictions on internet access in several provinces, reportedly imposed to curb “immorality.”

Taliban Claims Signs of Stability Amid Ongoing Economic Crisis

Despite years of drought and economic hardship, the Taliban insists that Afghanistan has achieved “relative peace and unity” under its government. Mujahid told Sky News that the country is showing “clear signs of economic recovery,” although the UNICEF reports a worsening hunger crisis, with 90 percent of children under five suffering from food insecurity.

Mujahid attributed these challenges to “decades of conflict and two major invasions that destroyed Afghanistan’s infrastructure and economy.” He also cited the reduction of international aid as a major contributing factor.

However, mothers in Badakhshan Province told Sky News that Taliban policies were partly to blame, explaining that women are no longer allowed to work and thus cannot earn income to feed their children.

Mujahid rejected these accusations, claiming that “in most households, men remain the primary breadwinners.”

Under Taliban rule, women are barred from studying medicine or nursing—a policy the United Nations has condemned as “deeply discriminatory,” warning that it endangers the lives of Afghan women and children. Mujahid countered that Afghanistan “already has enough female doctors.”

Highlighting the Taliban’s ideological stance, he said: “We have capable Islamic scholars who will study these issues carefully and find solutions consistent with Sharia law.”