Chinese Envoy Warns Against Foreign Interference Amid Speculation Over Bagram
Amid speculation about a possible U.S. return to the Bagram airbase, China’s ambassador to Tehran, Zhong Peiwu, stated that Afghanistan’s future must remain in the hands of its people and that foreign interference is unacceptable.
Speaking on Sunday, the envoy reaffirmed China’s support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He warned that certain countries are attempting to destabilize Afghanistan through provocative actions, a move Beijing strongly opposes.
His remarks came in response to recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested reopening the Bagram airbase as a strategic site near China’s borders to counter security threats. Trump claimed that the base is located close to China’s nuclear weapons facilities.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. envoy for Afghanistan, also floated the idea of joint use of the base with the Taliban for counterterrorism operations.
In reaction, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, insisted that Afghanistan will not accept any form of foreign intrusion. Although the Taliban remain unrecognized internationally, regional political actors have voiced concern over the possible use of Afghan territory in renewed geopolitical rivalries.
The Chinese ambassador further emphasized that Beijing has consistently maintained normal relations with Afghanistan and stands with its people in pursuit of peace and stability.
Since the 2021 withdrawal of foreign troops, Bagram—once the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan—has been under Taliban control. Any prospect of foreign forces returning to the base continues to spark unease among Afghans and regional neighbors alike.
