US in talks on returning troops to Afghanistan - Trump
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump said the United States is in talks with Afghanistan about returning American troops to the Bagram air base, according to a White House broadcast and The Wall Street Journal.
According to the US president, the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan was "the most embarrassing day in the history of our country."
"We’ll see what happens with Bagram. We’re talking to Afghanistan. It should never have been given up. It was the most embarrassing day in the history of our country. There was no reason to give it up. I was the one who brought troop levels down to 5,000, but we were going to keep Bagram, the air base," he told reporters.
Just hours earlier, The Wall Street Journal also reported that the United States was in talks with the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Sources said the discussions involve the possible deployment of a small contingent that could lead to counterterrorism operations.
An American official, describing the negotiations as being in the early stages, said the presence might include manned aircraft or drones.
Background
Earlier this week, during a visit to the United Kingdom, Trump said the United States was seeking to bring the Bagram air base back under its control, stressing that the facility still holds strategic importance for Washington.
"One of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons," Trump said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Zakkir Jalal said on Friday that the movement would not allow the restoration of foreign control over Afghanistan’s key air base.
"Throughout history, Afghans have not accepted a military presence, and this possibility was completely rejected during the Doha talks and agreement, but the doors are open to other engagement," the Taliban Foreign Ministry official emphasized.
