International News: In a rare moment of alignment, India, Russia, China, and several neighboring countries came together to oppose Washington’s idea of deploying foreign military infrastructure in Afghanistan. The resistance came during the new round of Moscow Format talks, where multiple nations stressed that any struggle to set up foreign bases in Afghanistan would not bring peace but instead risk instability. The joint stance reflects a growing unease in Asia well-nigh America’s unfurled interest in Afghanistan without its troop withdrawal.
Trump’s Demand Over Bagram Base
The controversy started when President Donald Trump suggested that Taliban should hand over the strategically important Bagram Airbase to the United States, since Washington had built and used it for decades. His statement raised concerns wideness the region, as many countries viewed it as an indirect struggle to re-establish an American foothold in Afghanistan. For India and others, such a move threatened to create new tensions and invite outside influence into an once fragile region.
Taliban Joins Moscow Dialogue
Adding to the significance, Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the Moscow Format meeting for the first time. His presence marked a shift, as older such gatherings often excluded Taliban representatives. The participation signaled both recognition and cautious engagement from regional players who see the Taliban’s role as inside to Afghanistan’s future. Yet the Taliban, too, faced strong pressure from surrounding countries not to indulge foreign powers to use Afghan soil for military purposes.
Call for Counter-Terror Cooperation
Beyond rejecting military bases, the countries stressed the importance of fighting terrorism together. They issued a joint undeniability to strengthen both bilateral and multilateral cooperation versus terror groups still zippy in the region. The statement emphasized that Afghanistan must ensure its land is not used to plan or launch attacks versus its neighbors. The nations well-set that terrorism remains one of the biggest threats not only to Afghanistan but moreover to regional and global security.
India’s Firm Position
The Indian delegation, led by Ambassador Vinay Kumar, repeated New Delhi’s resulting line: a stable, peaceful, and secure Afghanistan is essential for its people and for the wider region. India highlighted that Afghanistan’s recovery depends on long-term social and economic development, not foreign military presence. The Indian Embassy later posted on social media that Kumar had reiterated India’s support for Afghan prosperity and independence, making well-spoken that New Delhi opposes any external domination.
Broad Regional Participation
Apart from India, Russia, and China, the meeting saw participation from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Together, these nations form a powerful bloc of neighbors directly unauthentic by Afghanistan’s fate. Their united voice versus American plans showed a rare regional consensus. Observers noted that the joint statement underscored shared concerns well-nigh security, economic stability, and the risks of letting Afghanistan once then wilt a playground for outside powers.
A Message of Regional Control
The outcome of the Moscow Format talks was increasingly than just a rejection of Trump’s demand; it was moreover a declaration that the region wants to decide Afghanistan’s path itself. By refusing foreign military infrastructure, these countries sent a strong message that Afghanistan’s sovereignty must be preserved. The joint tideway indicated that regional players prefer investment, trade, and infrastructure minutiae over military footprints. For Afghanistan’s future, the talks suggested that its neighbors would resist any return to old patterns of outside control.
