Pakistan and its key neighbours, China and Iran, have joined Russia in opposing the establishment of any “military bases in and around Afghanistan”, and called for respect of Kabul’s “sovereignty” and “territorial integrity”, an official statement said Saturday.

The opposition by the four countries comes as US President Donald Trump seeks a military presence in war-torn Afghanistan.

The Fourth Quadripartite Meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia was held in New York on Thursday on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, a joint statement of which was shared by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had threatened Afghanistan if it did not give back control of the Bagram air base to the United States.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump said, “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.”

Trump also asserted that the United States had sought to regain control of the base used by American forces following the attacks of September 11, 2001. He told reporters that he was speaking with Afghanistan about it.

TALIBAN PUSHES BACK

Afghan officials have already expressed opposition to a revived US presence.

“Afghanistan and the United States need to engage with one another … without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan,” Zakir Jalal, an Afghan foreign ministry official, said in a post on X.

WE WANT BAGRAM BACK: DONALD TRUMP

Speaking alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump said that his administration is working to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, citing its strategic proximity to China’s nuclear weapons facilities as a major reason behind the move.

Trump also called the decision to abandon Bagram a “total disaster,” under former President Joe Biden’s administration, which he accused of botching the US exit from its longest war.

“We’re trying to get (the base) back, by the way. We’re trying to get it back because (Afghan government officials) need things from us. We want that base back. But one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” he added.

– Ends

(With inputs from agencies)

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