KABUL, Oct 12, (Xinhua): Afghan government's chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has utterly rejected any reports on a deal with the United States over Bagram airbase, saying that Afghans won't give any part of their soil to any country. "On Bagram airbase, I should clarify that Afghanistan in general is one territory and we won't give a foot of this territory to anyone, and we won't accept the military presence of any country.

This is the wish of the people of Afghanistan and our nation," Mujahid told reporters at a press conference here on Sunday. The Afghan official made the remarks amid reported attempts by US President Donald Trump to retake Bagram airbase and redeploy US forces there. Bagram airbase, 50 km north of Kabul, had served as the main US forces base during the 20-year presence of the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, which ended in August 2021 following the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country.

Neither Bagram nor any parts of Afghanistan would be given to any nation, nor any foreign country allowed to deploy troops here, Mujahid further said. Nevertheless, Mujahid noted that the Afghan government is ready for political and economic engagements with all the countries, including the United States, and wants "America to open its embassy here instead of insisting on Bagram and begin positive engagements via diplomatic channels."