Afghanistan's neighbors, including US allies, have united against US President Donald Trump's stated goal of his country establishing control over the "Bagram" military base near Kabul, they said in a statement after their meeting in Moscow, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The "Moscow format" meeting on Afghanistan - the seventh such event hosted by Russia, which was attended for the first time by the foreign minister of the Taliban government - included US partners such as India and Pakistan. The other 10 countries included Russia, China, Iran, as well as Central Asian countries.
In a joint statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the ten countries did not explicitly mention the United States or "Bagram", but it appeared to be directed against Trump's plans for the base and in support of the Taliban's position, Reuters noted.
"They called the attempts of (some) countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighboring countries unacceptable, as this is not in the interests of regional peace and stability," the statement said.
At a press conference in Moscow yesterday, during the closing part of the event, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki reiterated his position.
"Afghanistan is a free and independent country and has never accepted a foreign military presence throughout its history. "Our resolve and policy will remain the same to keep Afghanistan free and independent," he added.
The Taliban's first rule in Afghanistan was ended in 2001 by a US-led invasion of the country.
The Bagram base on the outskirts of the capital Kabul became the largest and most prominent US base in Afghanistan before the chaotic withdrawal of US troops in 2021, which the Taliban used to regain control.
Last month, Trump threatened that "bad things" would happen to Afghanistan if the country did not return the base to the US, citing its strategic location near China.
Current and former US officials have expressed doubt about Trump's goal, saying that retaking Bagram would it could look like a re-invasion requiring more than 10,000 troops, as well as the deployment of modern air defenses over it.