Taliban accuses Trump of spreading misinformation
The Taliban has accused Donald Trump of spreading misinformation in a pointed retort over claims of Chinese influence at Bagram air base.
The former US base was abandoned by American forces when they withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. The Taliban – which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the US – seized control of the country shortly afterward. It took control of Bagram and the $7 billion worth of US-funded military equipment left behind.
Mr Trump said last week: 'Bagram air base is one of the biggest air bases in the world. It has one of the biggest and most powerful runways. And we gave it up. And you know who is occupying it at the moment? China. Because Biden gave it up.'
In response, the Taliban said: 'There is not a single armed Chinese individual here, nor do we have any such agreement with any country. Why is he spreading such misinformation at such a high level? The United States is a major country, and its leader should speak with great accuracy.'
During his election campaign, Mr Trump repeatedly claimed that China had taken control of Bagram.
He reiterated the allegation during his first cabinet meeting of the new administration last Wednesday and criticised Joe Biden, the former US president, for relinquishing the military hub. He added that he wanted to recover the weaponry left behind.
After the withdrawal of US troops, Beijing has strengthened ties with the Taliban but has denied any military presence in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan shares a border with China and Bagram is only about 400 miles away from a Chinese military base.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said: 'Now [Trump] claims that Bagram is in the hands of the Chinese, whereas Bagram is under the control of the forces of the Islamic Emirate. We request that Trump's team explain to him and correct his information about Afghanistan.'
He called the idea of Mr Trump reclaiming Bagram a 'dream and fantasy' and said that the leftover American stockpile was in the possession of the Taliban as spoils of war.
On July 6 2021, the American troops and their Western allies departed the former US-operated base with little fanfare and no public ceremony as Taliban advances grew.
Ashraf Ghani's government collapsed quickly and 13 US service members were killed as American forces left Kabul.
In August 2021, the Taliban returned to power and enforced a strict version of Sharia, severely curbing free speech and women's rights.
Women face strict dress codes, bans on education beyond the age of 11, and exclusion from work. Public flogging and stoning to death for adultery are common.
Last week, the Taliban held a public execution of a man convicted of murder in front of thousands of people at a sports stadium. It was the third such death sentence to be carried out in five days.
Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, said that the Taliban had publicly flogged at least 128 people, including 27 women, in recent months.
No country recognises the Taliban government due to these abuses.
The group withdrew from membership of the International Criminal Court in February after prosecutor Karim Khan sought arrest warrants for Hibatullah Akhundzada, the reclusive Taliban supreme leader, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the interim Afghan chief justice.
Mr Khan accused both of being 'criminally responsible for persecuting Afghan girls and women'.
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