Written by: Khalil Andarabi
Conflicts over Bagram have been ongoing for several years, not just recently. This base was completely under American control during the twenty years of the republic and was used to monitor its regional rivals, such as Russia and China.
With the new government coming to power in Afghanistan, the US presence being dismantled, and its mercenaries fleeing, this base, like other parts of Afghanistan, came completely under the control of the Afghans, and there are no longer any signs of foreign presence there.
Although after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, and especially with the rise of the Trump administration, the clamor for retaking Bagram became headlines again, and strangely made the fleeing republicans hopeful of reoccupying Afghanistan, this bitter dream of theirs never came true.
Now, however, one of those republicans who fled, named Halim Fidai, who at that time had served in various positions, including as governor of several provinces, has raised the issue of Bagram and stated that it is in the Afghanistan’s interest for Bagram Air Base to be legally handed over to the United States. He also warned that if this doesn’t happen, Pakistan will fill the void, leaving Afghanistan without this “great opportunity” and international partnership.
First and foremost, a specific point in Fidai’s words must be highlighted; where he says “legally.” Without a doubt, the inclusion of the word “legal” indicates that Fidai, despite having held key positions in the administration for twenty years of republican rule, is now indirectly admitting that the US presence at Bagram Air Base during those twenty years was not legal; a claim that implies Afghanistan was occupied during the rule of these same figures; a truth rarely heard from such individuals.
Undoubtedly, handing over Bagram Air Base – whether legally or illegally – is essentially opening the door to occupation for foreign forces, because occupation is occupation, and the term “legal” is not mentioned for it in any dictionary. These terms are nothing more than the republic’s deserters playing with their conscience.
Such a decision is clearly against the will of the Afghan people, who resisted the occupiers and their mercenaries for twenty long years, with everything they had and didn’t have, to cleanse every inch of this land from the filth of occupation. The question now is: Isn’t Bagram part of this very soil, which is being handed over to the occupiers again, even after all this suffering and sacrifice?
On the other hand, when the US return to Bagram is called beneficial to the people’s interests, it must be made clear that not only political experts, but even the most ordinary members of society are aware of the fact that the US presence in Bagram will pave the way for conflict between the US, Russia, China, and Iran, and will once again transform Afghanistan from a free and independent country into a battleground for foreign powers, just as it was during the twenty years of the republic.
Now the question arises whether people like Halim Fidai are also deprived of understanding such a simple truth, or whether, behind these colorful slogans, personal interests are hidden as before, and they want to gather again at the table of looting and plundering the public assets of this nation?
In conclusion, it must be said that Bagram is neither a commodity for trade nor a lever for the political ambitions of Republic defectors. This base is part of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty and dignity, which was regained by Afghans thru heavy sacrifices, and no sane mind or awakened conscience would allow the bitter experience of occupation to be repeated.
Yes! Preserving independence, avoiding great power games, and respecting the will of a nation that has paid the price for freedom is the only way to save Afghanistan from a return to its dark and costly past.
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