Trump’s Bagram Airbase Push Rekindles US-Pakistan-Saudi Nexus

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Donald Trump’s reported interest in re-entering Afghanistan and strengthening ties with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia revives fears in New Delhi of renewed instability in South Asia, echoing past cycles of conflict and terror spillovers into Kashmir.

By TRH Global Affairs Desk

NEW DELHI, September 21, 2025 — The Taliban has called the bluff of US President Dondald Trump over his rhetoric to “take back the Bagram air base” in Afghanistan. The Taliban stated that Afghanistan is ready for another spell of battle for 20 years more.

The rulers in Kabul specially mentioned 20 years, for these many years the US had stayed put in Afghanistan only to run away, leaving military assets and personnel in the hands of the Taliban. Trump retorted back, threatening the Taliban of dire consequences.

“The bad things are going to happen,” thundered Trump in a Truth Social post. He demanded that the airbase be returned to “who built.” Trump had stunned security analysts by first speaking of taking control of the airbase while on state visit to the UK.

Trump’s renewed focus on Afghanistan has sparked unease among Indian defence experts, who see it as a potential threat to India’s strategic interests in South Asia. Trump has hinted at regaining control of a key airport in Kabul, suggesting geopolitical calculations linked to China’s nuclear facilities nearby.

Indian analysts, however, argue this justification is a smokescreen. They believe Washington’s deeper aim lies in re-establishing a foothold in Central Asia, a region poised to become the next global economic hub. With Pakistan’s borders touching seven countries, and Saudi Arabia’s influence in the mix, experts warn of a dangerous revival of the US-Pakistan-Saudi nexus—a combination that historically stoked instability in Afghanistan and terrorism in Kashmir.

Trump’s position contradicts his earlier pledge during his first term to completely withdraw from Afghanistan. That withdrawal, carried out hastily, left behind billions of dollars worth of US military assets now under Taliban control. The chaotic exit, marked by tragic images of Afghans clinging to US aircraft at Kabul airport, remains a stark reminder of the human and financial costs of America’s longest war—over 10,000 US soldiers killed and more than $1 trillion spent without achieving lasting stability.

For India, the concern is twofold. First, Afghanistan has long been a geopolitical hotspot where outside powers—from the British Raj to NATO—have suffered heavy losses. Second, any renewed US presence, especially in cooperation with Pakistan, risks emboldening terrorist networks that have historically targeted Kashmir and India’s heartland.

Geopolitical observers note that Afghanistan’s location makes it central to the competition between the US and China. With Central Asia largely under Beijing’s influence through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Washington’s re-entry into Kabul could signal the start of a new Cold War theatre.

For New Delhi, this raises the specter of once again being caught in the crosshairs of great power rivalry. While India has cautiously opened channels with the Taliban to safeguard its interests, experts warn that Trump’s Afghan ambitions could create “dark clouds” over India’s geostrategic security environment, undoing fragile progress made in recent years.

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