The British force consisted of B and C Companies from 40 Commando, Royal Marines. Bagram was also the initial staging point for the invading Soviet forces at the beginning of the conflict, with elements of two Soviet Airborne Troops' divisions being deployed there. [35][36][37][38] Covering the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Almeria, Axarquia, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. [32] On Thanksgiving evening in 2013, a rocket attack killed 2 civilian contractors as they slept in their B hut on the southern part of the field. Camp Vance was headquartered by U.S. Special Forces troops whose core tasks included advising the Afghan National Armys special operations forces and local police, training forces associated with the Village Stability Operations (VSO) and counterinsurgency (COIN). In his recent address to Congress, President Biden declared the U.S. will maintain over the horizon the capacity to suppress future threats to the homeland. But that wont be so easy. The tale of how it came to pass is fascinating, and is the product of hundreds of years of geopolitical tensions in the region. WND reported that China is moving to take control of the Bagram Air Base, also known as the Bagram Airfield, based on social media information that has come out in the past week. The contract represents the Taliban governments first international energy deal, awarding a 15% royalty fee to the Taliban administration and starting with 1,000 tons per day. Should these terrorists network regain a strong presence in Afghanistan which they likely will under an emboldened Taliban regime they will refocus their efforts to achieve their long stated goal of obtaining a nuclear weapon. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only.
Earlier reported that some Chinese are seen there either but the Taliban denied it. Bagram is 40 miles north of Kabul and is impressive in size: The installation covers about 30 square miles. as well as other partner offers and accept our. " Former President Donald Trump warned that China could take over Bagram Air Base after the US military abandoned it during the Biden administrations surrender of Afghanistan this summer. [1] The air base also has at least three large hangars, a control tower, numerous support buildings, and various housing areas. Sources told CNN-News18 that it was not clear why the top Chinese intelligence and military delegation visited the airfield in north Kabul, but they were The US departure from Bagram has also seen the collapse of the economy same-named nearby town, an illustration of how Afghanistans fortunes were so heavily tied to the war and foreign aid. Earlier reported that some Chinese are seen there either but the Taliban denied it. But sandwiched Pakistan and Tajikistan, is an inaccessible 46-mile border which is mostly more than 5,000 meters above sea level. One of the rockets landed next to a B-Hut in a camp located on the west side of the base killing a Bosnian national, who was working at Bagram as a contract firefighter. Sources in Bagram say they have seen military planes are landing at Bagram airbase. The UK newspaper's report was based on its own sources, noting that power was restored in the airbase the US left in July. As many as 250 TIP militants are active in Badakhshan province, over the border. The governments in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan have shown little willingness to host American bases and the Gulf states are problematic as our aircraft have to fly over Iran or Pakistan. China, a country bordering Afghanistan, accused the United States of "leaving chaos" behind in Afghanistan after withdrawing from the country. Get the latest news delivered right to your email. WebThe two countries in reckoning are Pakistan backed China and the US, which left the airbase on July 5, 2021, after two decades of operations. [33], On 28 November 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump visited the Bagram Airfield for the first time to celebrate Thanksgiving with the U.S. troops there. An incident at Trump Tower in Chicago caused SWAT units to roll out for a standoff with an armed woman inside. Many of its support buildings and base housing built by the Soviet Armed Forces during their occupation were destroyed by years of fighting between various warring Afghan factions after the Soviets left. From the Silk Road trade route which lasted 1800 years, to the expansionist British Empire in the late 1800s, here's how this unlikely border came to being. He built up a chain of electronics stores and sold them as a franchise over 35 years ago. pic.twitter.com/oD4zFK6wZt, Natiq Malikzada (@natiqmalikzada) October 2, 2021. 'Military' planes are spotted landing at Bagram airbase in Afghanistan https://t.co/KyqY4ZbbUw. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact While the United States was focusing on Afghanistan, the Soviets were strengthening ties with Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba. Similar to the idea of having an option of a second front in case of hostilities for China, the U.S. air base at Bagram is also a platform that should be maintained in case of hostilities with Iran to maintain options outside of our carriers and Gulf bases, that in most wargames are flooded with Iranian missiles. With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. Bagram Air Base was formerly the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan,[4] staffed by the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing of the U.S. Air Force, along with rotating units of the U.S. and coalition forces. No information who is there, and why the lights are on tonight after nearly two months It keeps government people from doing what they want.

As of early January 2002, the number of 10th Mountain Division troops had grown to about 400 soldiers. (RELATED: Taliban Bans Afghan Women From Higher Education). Numerous tent areas housed the troops based there, including one named Viper City. Reports also indicated that Northern Alliance rocket attacks on Kabul had been staged from Bagram, possibly with Russian-made FROG-7 Rockets. During the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, the base was secured by a team from the United Kingdom's Special Boat Service. Your email address will not be published. China and Afghanistan are unlikely neighbors who share a tiny 46-mile border most of which runs 5,000 meters above sea level atop the Pamir mountains. Former President Donald Trump warned that China could take over Bagram Air Base after the US military abandoned it during the Biden administrations surrender of Afghanistan this summer. The US military left Bagram Airfield - its key base in Afghanistan - in the dead of night without notifying the Afghans, the base's new commander said. No information who is there, and why the lights are on tonight after nearly two months CHINA??? By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Your email address will not be published. Taliban forces were consistently within artillery and mortar range of the field, denying full possession of the strategic facility to the Northern Alliance. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider

Foreign donations, which accounted for nearly half of the economys GDP, stopped abruptly when the Taliban stepped into power. A certain raging545said in Twitter that the lights of the airbase were turned on to protect it from the attacks of the "#Resistance" happening near it.

Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. [15][16] Landmines were also a serious concern in and around Bagram Airfield.[17]. In December 2001, the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army camped on the field. Malikzada raised that the base's lights were on and raised the possiblity that China is already occupying the facility. The move would be an attempt by China to strengthen ties with the Taliban and embarrass America," Sellin revealed in Twitter. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP] Recent statements have supported these claims. The bombing set a record for the number of precision-guided munitions launched at one time from a B-52 bomber, according to Air Force Maj. Gen. James Hecker. I think you are going to see China make a move for Bagram Air Force Base, she said last month. Bagram is among the bases slated for the new project, Mujahid also confirmed. [10], Bagram airfield was originally built during the early period of the Cold War, at a time when the United States and the neighboring Soviet Union were spreading political influence in Afghanistan. Sources in Bagram say they have seen military planes are landing at Bagram airbase. This comes especially after scenes of civilians attempting to escape through the Kabul airport as the US was evacuating its nationals and embassy staff went viral. Retired U.S. Army Reserve Lawrence Sellinwho served in Iraq and Afghanistan was quick to cite the report on China's arrival in the airbase. Bagram is among the bases slated for the new project, Mujahid also confirmed. In late January 2002, there were somewhere around 4,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, of which about 3,000 were at Kandahar International Airport, and about 500 were stationed at Bagram. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP] Recent statements have supported these claims. Under the circumstances, the Taliban is considering handing over Bagram airbase for counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan to a third power. The benefit of the Bagram base being handed over to the US is that Washington will accompany this Taliban gesture with much required humanitarian and development aid for a country that is facing a severe drought situation. Afghanistan has been a close, if troublesome, ally to China is recent decades. The lights at Bagram Military Airport, where it was the main base for US military for 20 years, after nearly two months are on tonight. Bagram Airfield remains our sole strategic key terrain in the backyards of three of our four global competitors China, Russia, and Iran and we have no other options in the region. However, Iran International Senior Correspondent Tajuden Soroushtweeted on Sunday that Chinese military planes have been spotted in the airbase. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, (RELATED: Taliban Bans Afghan Women From Higher Education). No information who is there, and why the lights are on tonight after nearly two monthsCHINA???"

The move would be an attempt by China to strengthen ties with the Taliban and embarrass America.https://t.co/vdWhKj88cM, Dr. Lawrence Sellin (@LawrenceSellin) October 3, 2021. [6] Kabul International Airport is located approximately 40km (25mi) south of Bagram, connected by two separate roads. Sellin posted a photo of the airbase at night with an inset photo of it during the morning showing that it is occupied along with snapshots of the tweets made by Soroush and Malikzada that was reported by the Daily Mail. The second runway measures 9,687 by 85 feet (2,953m 26m). The United States cannot give up this key terrain that we have spent so much blood and treasure to fight for and may cost us far more lives if we have to fight without it in the future. In this photograph taken on August 24, 2022, a chicken vendor drinks tea as he waits for customers in front of his shop in a market near the former US military base in Bagram. New Delhi: With the exit of US military forces from Afghanistan and Taliban regaining power, a former senior American diplomat has warned of China making a move to take over the Bagram air force base that was controlled by the US for nearly two decades. view detail. In March 2010, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) installed 150 solar powered lights to address reports of sexual assaults at the base. If the Taliban requests Chinese assistance, I think China will be inclined to send human support. The Bagram air base, 70km north of Kabul, is pictured last July 5 after all US and NATO troops withdrew. A US Air Force transport plane lands at the Bagram Air Base in Bagram on July 1, 2021. Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox! Former U.N. Here's the unvarnished truth. Pesky thing, that Constitution. ", Nearly two months after the withdrawal of foreign troops from #Afghanistan, Bagram Air Base has apparently reactivated. ', Leftists Get Their Claws Out, Tear CNN's Van Jones to Shreds for What He Said About Trump, Joe Biden Classified Documents Bomb Dropped Live on Jesse Watters' Show, The Left Is Wrong: Here's Proof the Gender Wage Gap Is a Giant Fraud, O'Keefe Captures NY DA on Hidden Camera Outside Trump Hearing Complaining About Constitution, Op-Ed: Trump's Indictment Is Exactly What the Founders Tried to Prevent. The base itself is situated high up in the mountains and sees temperatures drop to 29C (20F). From Bagram to the South Pole, it is 8,633.06 mi (13,893.57 km) in the north. Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel. WebBagram Airfield-BAF, also known as Bagram Air Base (IATA: OAI, ICAO: OAIX), is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) southeast of Charikar in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan. Between 1999 and 2001, the Taliban and the Northern Alliance struggled for control of the base, but it was finally secured by British Special Forces at the time of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. The US News and World Report highlighted that China is assessing the possibility of using the base as its forward outpost although the government denied reports on it. The islands are about 250 miles south of Yangon where China has reportedly held leasing rights since 1994. Haley targeted Biden for his disastrous withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. The Afghan National Army later took control of the area and arrested some looters. There have been multiple reports of military planes arriving at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan just hours after images surfaced showing that the base had been restored to power for the first time since US forces evacuated the stronghold in July this year. Chinese 'military' aircraft landed in Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, said the Daily Mail on Sunday. Images circulating on social media appear to show spotlights illuminating the runway of the airbase in the distance, amid reports that several military planes have taken off and landed at the base in recent hours. Several sources have suggested that the planes are Chinese as the Taliban are believed not to have the expertise required to power the base or maintain and operate several military aircraft. You are going to see more lone wolf situations. The new project, Mujahid also confirmed latest News delivered right to email... Many as 250 TIP militants are active in Badakhshan province, over the.... Reserve Lawrence Sellinwho served in Iraq and Afghanistan was quick to cite the on... International Senior Correspondent Tajuden Soroushtweeted on Sunday during the US-led invasion of Afghanistan accused! Airbase for counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan to a third power is Recent decades control of strategic. 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