Afghan Taliban officials have forcibly rejected US President Donald Trump's demands for the return of Bagram air base, stating they will not give "even an inch" of Afghan territory to the United States, Iranian Tahlil Bazaar reported on September 21.

In a statement posted on social media platform X (previously Twitter), Afghanistan's unrecognised Taliban government said: "America should choose logical solutions instead of its failed past experiences."

The statement added that the Islamic Emirate seeks positive relations with all countries based on Islamic principles, balanced and economy-focused foreign policy and mutual interests and was unlikely to accept a foreign military on its soil. 

Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told local Tolo News that "not even one metre of Afghan soil will be given to Americans," whilst Acting Defence Minister Fasihuddin Fitrat said no deal involving "even an inch of Afghan territory" was possible, Khaama reported.

The statements came after Trump posted on Truth Social, threatening that "bad things will happen" if Afghanistan does not return Bagram air base to the US, its builders.

Trump said on September 20 that Washington was "talking now to Afghanistan" about reestablishing a US presence at Bagram, though he provided no details about purported conversations.

When asked if he would consider deploying US troops to take the base, Trump said: "We won't talk about that. We want it back, and we want it back right away. If they don't do it, you're going to find out what I'm going to do."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected Trump's assertions and urged the US to adopt a policy of "realism and rationality," posting that Afghanistan had an economy-oriented foreign policy and sought constructive relations with all states based on mutual interests.

The Afghan officials emphasised that under the Doha agreement, the US committed not to use force to preserve Afghanistan's territorial integrity and political independence and not to interfere in the country's internal affairs.

Earlier in on a visit to Britain, Trump said in a press conference with Keir Starmer, “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us,” adding that “one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons” IntelliNews previously reported on September 20. 

 At the UK press conference, Trump claimed the US "gave it to them for nothing", the BBC reported earlier.

Following the US demands, Afghanistan's Interior Ministry rejected a Financial Times report claiming its spokesperson had discussed contacts with defence and intelligence agencies from Russia, China, the United States, and Europe, calling the report "completely baseless and devoid of truth."

The ministry said its spokesperson had never made such statements and that no official source from the Islamic Emirate had made such comments. It described the report as a "media conspiracy" and part of a propaganda war against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, IntelliNews can reveal, citing a local Afghan press release.

The ministry said the aim of such reports was to create negative perceptions, weaken public trust and undermine the country's political independence.