In a joint statement on Tuesday, members of the Moscow-style Afghanistan talks, including rivals India and Pakistan, “reaffirmed their unwavering support for the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, unified and peaceful state,” Al Jazeera reported. The forum also includes Russia, China, Iran, and Central Asian countries, all of which strongly oppose the return of the US presence in Afghanistan.
“Attempts by states to deploy military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighboring countries are unacceptable as they are not in the interest of peace and stability in the region,” the member states said.
The statement echoes language from last year’s forum but signals widespread regional opposition to President Trump’s push to return to Bagram, which he handed over to the Afghan Taliban five years ago as part of a deal paving the way for a U.S. withdrawal from Kabul.
In endorsing this statement, India, a longtime partner of the United States, will overcome its deteriorating relationship with the U.S. government and its apparent closeness with the Taliban, which it has long opposed but has deepened ties with in recent years.
In its latest diplomatic move, India is set to welcome Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on his historic first visit to New Delhi this week from October 9 to 16.
After attending a forum in Moscow, Muttaqi stressed that Afghanistan will not accept any foreign military presence. “Afghanistan is a free and independent country and has never accepted a foreign military presence throughout its history,” he said. “Our decisions and policies to preserve Afghanistan’s freedom and independence remain unchanged.”
Last month, President Trump threatened that “bad things” would happen to Afghanistan if Bagram was not returned, citing its strategic location close to China. The Taliban have rejected President Trump’s request to return the bases.
Bagram is about 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) from the Chinese border and about 2,400 kilometers (about 1,500 miles) from the nearest Chinese missile factory in Xinjiang.
MNA