From Drop Site News · · 2m
Why Bagram Air Base Remains a Target Five Years After U.S. Exited Afghanistan
Taliban claim U.S. forces returned to Bagram Air Base five years after U.S. withdrawal, but locals say no Americans are present.
In brief
Taliban claim U.S. forces returned to Bagram Air Base five years after U.S. withdrawal, but locals say no Americans are present. Taliban deny U.S. forces are at Bagram Air Base, but the base remains a regional target amid ongoing tensions. Originally reported by Drop Site News.
Taliban Claim U.S. Forces Returned
Viral videos and online commentary have alleged that U.S. forces quietly reclaimed Afghanistan’s most notorious military base.
“They are back”
Residents Dismiss Rumors
Abdul Maroof, a 38-year-old resident of Kabul, said, 'God knows what they are doing, but they are back and the Taliban are hiding it.'
“God knows what they are doing, but they are back and the Taliban are hiding it”
Local Residents Confirm No Americans
Abdul Latif, 60, a lifelong resident of the area, said, 'I was here when the first Americans arrived in 2001. Nothing like that is happening now.'
“I was here when the first Americans arrived in 2”
Taliban Control Base Perimeter
Residents report that only Taliban fighters enter and leave the base, with no foreign contractors or Americans present.
Pakistani Airstrikes Target Bagram
In late February and early March 2026, Pakistani airstrikes targeted Bagram Air Base during cross-border escalation between Islamabad and Kabul.
Taliban Deny U.S. Presence
A Taliban intelligence officer said, 'It is all fake news. We control the entire base. No Americans are here.'
“It is all fake news”
Taliban Restrict Access
Taliban guards turned away the intelligence officer despite his credentials, saying the Ministry of Defense decides who enters.
U.S. Strategic Interest in Bagram
President Donald Trump stated in September 2025 that the U.S. should seek to regain control of Bagram due to its strategic proximity to Chinese and Iranian borders.
Local Economy Depended on U.S. Presence
Mohammad Musa, 18, said, 'Business was good when the Americans were here. There were so many people buying goods every day.'
“Business was good when the Americans were here”
Bagram as Prison Facility
Bagram housed a detention center where thousands of Afghans were held without trial for years, with documented cases of severe prisoner abuse.
Taliban Use Bagram for Detainees
Reports suggest the Taliban are using Bagram to hold criminal suspects, alleged ISKP members, and political dissidents.
Bagram’s Legacy Continues
Bagram remains a target amid regional tensions, with locals navigating the legacy of U.S. presence and ongoing threats.
What matters most
Taliban deny U.S. forces are at Bagram Air Base, but the base remains a regional target amid ongoing tensions.
