The United States and NATO have vacated the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan as part of the peace agreement signed with the Taliban. While the Taliban described this move as historic, Washington assured that it would not abandon Afghanistan. A senior U.S. defense official stated that "all U.S. and NATO troops have left the base," which is one of the largest military bases in Afghanistan.
The closure of the base, located 50 kilometers north of Kabul, ends the U.S. military presence at Afghanistan's key airfield, which formed the center for U.S. strategic operations in the country. Over the years, the large base has hosted hundreds of thousands of U.S. and NATO soldiers for airstrikes against the Taliban and other groups in the 20-year Afghan war. The U.S. and NATO forces are now in the final stages of their withdrawal from Afghanistan, expected to be completed by September 11.
U.S. President Joe Biden stated that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is progressing, but will not occur in the coming days. Biden, speaking to reporters at the White House, expressed confidence in the ability of Afghan leaders to continue governing but voiced concerns about internal issues. According to reports, all U.S. and foreign forces have now departed the airbase, which has been a U.S. stronghold since the invasion in 2001. The Afghan forces will oversee the Bagram base and use it to combat terrorism.
Al Jazeera correspondent Nasser Shadid reported that the U.S. and Afghan defense ministers discussed the handover process of the base in a phone call, noting that U.S. forces had evacuated all military bases in the country, except for the military command near the U.S. Embassy in central Kabul. According to a U.S. official, the evacuation of Bagram and its handover to Afghan forces indicates that the complete withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign troops from Afghanistan is imminent. This development follows the completion of the withdrawal of German and Italian troops involved in the NATO mission.
The Taliban welcomed the U.S. withdrawal from Bagram, with the group's political office spokesperson and negotiating delegation member, Mohammad Naim, calling it a historical step. Naim stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan exacerbates the country's problems. He added that negotiations with the government delegation in Doha are ongoing, expressing optimism about resolving the disputes between the two sides.
Reuters quoted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying that the withdrawal serves the interests of the U.S. government, while the French News Agency reported that the Taliban's spokesperson said a complete withdrawal would pave the way for Afghans to decide their future. On his part, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told U.S. General Scott Miller that with the U.S. withdrawal, a new chapter has opened between his country and the United States.
CNN reported a U.S. official stating that its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan might be completed within days, and President Biden had promised to finalize the withdrawal before the upcoming anniversary of the September 11 attacks. U.S. sources indicate that Washington will keep about 650 soldiers to protect its embassy and Kabul Airport.
U.S. Support
Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price remarked that the international community and the Afghan people would not accept any government installed by force, and such a government would lack legitimacy and not receive aid from the international community. Price emphasized during a press conference that the United States does not intend to abandon Afghanistan or retract support for the Afghan government and people, confirming that Washington will continue to support Afghan forces. He noted that the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan is necessary to protect American diplomats.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin voiced concerns regarding the Taliban's increase in violence, viewing it as an obstacle to reaching a comprehensive understanding. Austin confirmed during a phone call with his Afghan counterpart that the U.S. would continue supporting and training Afghan forces, stressing the importance of seizing the peace talks opportunity to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan.
Turkey and Russia
Amid the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stated that Turkey continues to communicate with the U.S. regarding the operation of Kabul Airport, emphasizing the importance of the airport's continued operation for Afghanistan. Akar mentioned in a statement during his visit to Tajikistan that the final decision regarding the protection and security of Kabul Airport will be issued following a meeting chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated yesterday that ISIS is gathering forces in northern Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO troops withdraw from the country, adding that this raises concerns for Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova indicated that Moscow is not inclined to exaggerate the current Taliban attacks in Afghanistan.
Field Developments
On the ground, an Afghan security source reported to Al Jazeera that eight police officers were killed and five others wounded in a Taliban attack near Faizabad city in Badakhshan province (northern Afghanistan). Additionally, German news agency reports indicated that 23 individuals, including security forces and anti-Taliban militants, were killed in attacks carried out by the Taliban in Badakhshan and Baghlan provinces in northern Afghanistan.
In the same context, accounts close to the Taliban circulated videos showing dozens of Afghan government troops surrendering to the group's fighters during battles on Thursday in the Takhar region of Kapisa province in northern Afghanistan. The Taliban stated via their Arabic Twitter account that the soldiers who surrendered their weapons benefited from the amnesty granted to anyone who defects from the system.
Recently, the Taliban have intensified their attacks with the accelerated withdrawal of foreign troops and have managed to seize several areas, especially in the northern and western parts of the country.
