Public Anger Could Spark Warlords’ Return, Warns Taliban Intelligence Report

Al-Emarah, one of the Taliban’s official publications, described Trump’s remarks as “an assault on national sovereignty and an insult to the feelings of the Afghan people.”

The outlet cited earlier comments from Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who warned that “any plan for the return of foreign forces, especially to Bagram, is a blatant violation of Afghanistan’s independence.”

Al-Emarah said Bagram remains a “symbol of occupation” for Afghans, and that renewed discussion of a US return amounted to “disrespect for national sentiments.” The article stressed that Afghanistan’s priorities are “peace, economic growth and the welfare of its people” and urged the international community to seek political, economic and cultural cooperation rather than a military presence.

It concluded: “Afghan soil will not host the military presence of any power.”

Trump has repeatedly said in recent days that Washington should regain Bagram, describing the base as strategically important due to its proximity to China, comments that have also drawn reaction from Beijing.

The blast occurred around 4:30 p.m. near Seh Dokan, on the eastern side of the base. A source told Afghanistan International that demining teams had carried out a controlled detonation of discovered explosives.

Earlier, the Taliban’s provincial police command said remnants of old explosives had been found and that engineering teams were conducting technical assessments and disposal work.

No further details were immediately available on the nature of the explosion.

The incident comes as US President Donald Trump has renewed calls for the United States to regain control of Bagram. He has warned that “bad things will happen” if the Taliban refuse to hand the base back to Washington.

In a statement, the Taliban recalled that the 2020 deal included a US pledge “not to use force or threats against the territorial integrity and political independence of Afghanistan.”

Adopting a conciliatory tone, the group said it sought “positive relations with all countries in light of Sharia principles, a balanced foreign policy and an economy-focused approach.” It added that during bilateral talks with Washington, Taliban negotiators had stressed that Afghanistan’s “independence and territorial integrity” were paramount.

“Instead of repeating the failed experiences of the past, a realistic and rational approach must be adopted,” the statement said.

Trump had earlier declared: “If Afghanistan does not return Bagram Air Base to those who built it, the United States of America, bad things going to happen.”

Susan Ferguson, the UN’s special representative for Afghan women, said women and girls accounted for over half of the victims and the majority of those still unaccounted for. Speaking at a briefing hosted by UN Women, she said the disaster has left women facing a long-term crisis.

During a recent visit to Kunar province, Ferguson said she saw widespread destruction of infrastructure and a lack of sanitation facilities for women and girls. Many are forced to travel long distances, exposing them to violence and landmines.

She also warned of rising domestic violence, which often increases after disasters due to displacement, loss of livelihoods and other pressures. The UN has identified at least 463 female-headed households in the affected areas. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are among the most vulnerable, with all women and girls in need of health services.

Restrictions imposed by the Taliban, including bans on women working for NGOs, attending university and limits on movement, have left Afghanistan critically short of female health workers, further worsening the crisis. Women have also been disproportionately affected in accessing humanitarian aid.

Ferguson called for $2.5 million to fund a six- to 12-month emergency programme to expand women’s and girls’ access to essential services in quake-hit areas, stressing the “vital importance” of female aid workers.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, accused Pakistani officials of using “warmongering” language and damaging relations between the two neighbours. “Before we speak in the media, spoil the atmosphere or take military action, a reasonable solution must be found,” he told a Pakistani think tank.

The remarks came a week after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that Islamabad would sever ties with the Afghan Taliban if it continued to back or host the TTP. He strsssed that the Afghan Taliban must choose between Islamabad and the TTP.

Mujahid said the Taliban are dissatisfied with the current situation, blaming both negative media campaigns and Pakistani threats. He insisted that Pakistan’s security problems are domestic matters. If Islamabad has intelligence that an attack is being planned from Afghan soil, he added, it should share it so the Taliban can act.

Pakistan’s security has sharply deteriorated since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. TTP attacks have surged, targeting security forces, infrastructure and projects such as the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of harbouring TTP leaders and allowing deadly attacks to be planned across the border, charges the Taliban deny.