WASHINGTON: The Washington Post has challenged claims by the Taliban regime that advanced military equipment is being manufactured at Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base, stating that available evidence does not support such assertions.
In this regard, the satellite imagery and other verified sources show that the Taliban are neither producing fighter aircraft nor manufacturing armored vehicles at the former U.S. military facility. The report indicates that the visuals circulated by the Taliban have been misrepresented to create a misleading impression of military capability.
Furthermore, the Washington Post reported that disabled aircraft and outdated armored vehicles have merely been repainted and positioned on the runway at Bagram.
These images and videos, widely shared on social media, were presented as evidence of military production and modernization, but experts cited by the newspaper concluded that the equipment shown is largely non-functional and symbolic.
Moreover, the report further noted that the Taliban have released footage of military drills, alleged aircraft repairs, and organized parades in an apparent effort to reinforce the narrative of operational strength.
The Washington Post also mentioned that several research institutions and policy-focused groups in the United States are closely monitoring developments at Bagram Air Base.
The United States President Donald Trump has previously called for the United States to regain control of the strategically significant base.
In this sense, the Washington Post also raised concerns about the Taliban’s broader security approach. It stated that the group relies on loosely organized and armed factions to meet its security needs, a strategy that has drawn international concern due to the lack of centralized oversight and accountability.
The Washington Post focused on the fact that while the Taliban seek to project an image of control and military competence, independent assessments suggest that these claims are exaggerated and should be viewed with caution.
