India Joins International Coalition to Oppose Foreign Military Presence in Afghanistan Amid Bagram Controversy

Donald Trump has called for the transfer of the strategic Bagram airbase back to the United States.

New Delhi:

India on Tuesday aligned with Russia, China, and seven other nations to oppose initiatives to establish foreign military infrastructure in Afghanistan, responding to US President Donald Trump's recent appeals to the Taliban government to surrender control of the strategic Bagram airbase.

During the latest "Moscow Format" discussions, the participating countries engaged in comprehensive deliberations focused on fostering prosperity and development in Afghanistan.

The coalition described as "unacceptable" any attempts by nations to establish military infrastructure in Afghanistan or neighboring states, arguing that such actions would undermine regional peace and stability.

Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi made his debut appearance at the Moscow Format talks.

Several weeks prior, Trump stated that the Taliban should relinquish control of Bagram airbase to the United States, noting it was originally established by Washington.

During the Moscow discussions, the participating nations also advocated for enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

"They emphasized that Afghanistan should be supported to implement comprehensive measures aimed at eliminating terrorism within a short timeframe to ensure Afghan territory is not used as a threat to the security of neighboring countries and beyond," the joint statement indicated.

The statement highlighted that terrorism represents a serious threat to Afghanistan's security, the broader region, and the international community.

In addition to India, Russia, and China, the meeting included representatives from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The countries acknowledged the necessity for Afghanistan to develop economic relationships with regional and international partners.

"They supported the active integration of Afghanistan into regional connectivity systems," the statement noted.

The Indian delegation, led by ambassador Vinay Kumar, reiterated support for an independent, peaceful, and stable Afghanistan, along with socioeconomic development and prosperity for the Afghan people, according to the Indian embassy in Moscow.

Kumar reaffirmed India's position that a secure, peaceful, and stable Afghanistan serves the interests of the Afghan people and is essential for regional resilience and global security.

In his address to the gathering, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized the regional and global situation as "complicated."

"We recognize that your government is working toward stability in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. There is general consensus that significant positive changes have occurred in combating the terrorist threat," he stated.

"Relevant UN bodies have observed a substantial reduction in areas cultivated with narcotic plants," he added.

Lavrov expressed Russia's commitment to providing comprehensive assistance to Afghanistan in its efforts against drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime, with the goal of ensuring a peaceful life for the Afghan people.