Place In News
Bagram Air Base
- 22 Sep 2025
- 2 min read
The US President warned Afghanistan of consequences if Bagram air base isn’t returned, hinting at possible military action. The base was vacated by US forces before their 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- About: Located about 60 km north of Kabul, Bagram Airfield is Afghanistan’s largest military base, positioned in the vital Parwan province.
- The province acts as a strategic gateway, with the 2.6 km Salang tunnel linking Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif and other northern cities.
- In addition, highways from Parwan connect Kabul to Ghazni and Kandahar in the south and Bamiyan in the west, making it central to Afghanistan’s connectivity and control.
- Historical Evolution: The base was constructed by the Soviet Union in the 1950s and rose to prominence during the Cold War and the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989).
- Following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Bagram became the main operational hub for American forces, serving as a logistics, intelligence, and command centre throughout the War on Terror.
- Strategic Significance: Despite the withdrawal of US forces, Bagram continues to hold immense strategic value.
- Its location offers a vantage point over regional dynamics. With China building closer ties with the Taliban, the airbase’s role gains new relevance.
- The significance is amplified by proximity to sensitive Chinese sites—Lop Nur nuclear test site in Xinjiang is just 2,000 km away, while the Koko Nur nuclear weapons facility lies further east in Qinghai province.
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