NEW DELHI: India, along with other nations, on Tuesday, opposed the deployment of foreign military infrastructure on Afghan soil, effectively rejecting United States president Donald Trump’s calls for handing over the Bagram airbase.The joint opposition came at the 7th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, which included India, Afghanistan, Russia and China, Iran and Central Asian countries, including Pakistan.The countries described the presence of a foreign military in Afghanistan as “unacceptable” during the extensive deliberation on bringing prosperity and development to Afghanistan.“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,” said a joint statement published by the Russian foreign ministry.The Indian delegation, led by Ambassador Vinay Kumar, reaffirmed India’s support for an independent, peaceful, and stable Afghanistan, along with the socioeconomic development and prosperity of its people, according to the Indian Embassy in Moscow.Trump’s Bagram pushUS president Donald Trump issued a warning to Afghanistan last month, demanding the return of Bagram Air Base to Washington or face consequences. “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, bad things are going to happen,” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform. The ultimatum follows remarks made earlier in the week during Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom, where he revealed Washington was “trying to get it back.” Standing beside British prime minister Keir Starmer, he said, “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us.”The issue underscores the base’s strategic significance. Its location gives access to volatile parts of Central and South Asia, while also offering a vantage point close to China’s sensitive Xinjiang region, where Beijing maintains nuclear missile sites.Trump also complained that the United States had “gave it to them for nothing,” adding that Bagram is “exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles.”Bagram Air Base, located in Afghanistan’s Parwan province, was a key strategic hub for the United States since the 2001 invasion. However, following the US withdrawal in 2021 and the Taliban’s rapid re-invasion, the United States lost control of Bagram.Also read: What is the ‘insurrection act’? Trump’s new favourite term – All you need to know aboutCounter-terrorismAt the talks in Moscow, participating nations agreed on the need to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels.They stressed that Afghanistan must be supported in taking comprehensive steps to eliminate terrorism and prevent its soil from being used to threaten neighbouring countries or others.The countries noted that terrorism remains a serious threat to Afghanistan, the region, and the wider world.They also highlighted the importance of expanding Afghanistan’s economic ties and supported its active integration into regional connectivity networks.What is Moscow formatThe Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan is a regional diplomatic platform established in 2017 to facilitate dialogue among Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries and other stakeholders. Its primary aim is to promote peace, stability, and development in Afghanistan through multilateral cooperation.
