Indian media: India, along with China, Russia and Pakistan, opposes the transfer of the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan to the United States
Indian Express website, October 8: In an unexpected event, India has joined the Taliban, Pakistan, China and Russia in opposing US President Trump's attempt to take over the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. This comes just days before the Afghan Foreign Minister under Taliban rule, Amir Khan Muttaqi, is scheduled to visit India this weekend.
The report said that although Bagram was not specifically mentioned, participants at the Afghanistan issue consultation meeting held in Moscow on Tuesday issued a strongly worded joint statement: "They (the participants) called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighboring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability." ("They (the participants) called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighboring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability.")
The report said that the seventh meeting of the Moscow format consultations on the Afghanistan issue was held in Moscow, with special representatives and senior officials from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan attending the meeting. The Belarusian delegation also attended the meeting as guests.
The statement said: "The Afghan delegation led by Foreign Minister Muttaqi participated in the meeting for the first time as a member."
The report said that Trump asked the ruling Taliban government in Afghanistan to hand over the country's Bagram Air Force Base to Washington. On September 18, Trump made a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stating that the US government was "trying to get back (Bagram Air Force Base), we gave it away for nothing (Bagram Air Force Base). We want that base back," he said. Two days later, he posted on Truth Social: "If Afghanistan does not return the Bagram Air Force Base to the United States that built it, bad things will happen!"
But predictably, the Taliban rejected Trump's request, with chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying: "Afghans will never allow their land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances."
The original title of the report was "India sides with Taliban, Pakistan & China, slams Trump bid to take over Bagram base" (India joins the Taliban, Pakistan and China in strongly condemning Trump's attempt to take over the Bagram base).
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845373117478410/
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