China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan have jointly opposed any move to re-establish foreign military bases in war-torn Afghanistan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The opposition follows US President Donald Trump’s request to the interim Taliban administration to return Bagram Air Base to Pentagon control.
In a joint statement issued after a quadrilateral meeting, the countries “emphasised respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo stated that the group “reiterated firm opposition to re-establishment of military bases in Afghanistan and the region by the countries responsible for the current situation in the country.”
Guo added that the consensus “fully demonstrates the respect Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries have for its sovereignty, independence and national dignity.”
President Trump, however, warned that “bad things” would happen if the Taliban administration did not cede control of Bagram Air Base to the Pentagon. Kabul has firmly refused to negotiate over its territorial integrity and urged Trump to honour the 2020 Doha Agreement, which set terms for the US withdrawal.