US hands over Bagram military base to Afghans within 20 days

The US forces will return their largest base in Afghanistan, “Bagram”, to the Afghan army by June 20, a local security source said Tuesday.

The official, who requested anonymity, said that the recovery process is scheduled to take about 20 days, but this period may be longer or shorter, adding that “the Ministry of Defense has formed a special committee to monitor and manage the return of the base to the Afghan army.”

Earlier, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the House of Representatives last week that the US withdrawal was proceeding “at a steady pace, in fact a little faster” than the established schedule.

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huge necessities and logistical means that were put in place to assist in the work of the forces will also be transferred, including vehicles, weapons and various equipment. Part of it will be handed over to Afghan forces or destroyed.

It is noteworthy that US President Joe Biden ordered the completion of the withdrawal of all soldiers by September 11, the anniversary of the 2001 attacks, but the process is taking place at an accelerated pace and is likely to be completed during the summer.

largest base in afghanistan

• The Bagram military base, located 50 kilometers northeast of Kabul in Parwan Province, is the largest US base in Afghanistan.
• Built by the Soviets when they occupied the country (1979-1989), this base housed more than 30,000 American and NATO soldiers and civilians – including French – during the height of military operations in 2011.
• Bagram base was a detention center, and was often denounced by the media and Amnesty International, which spoke of “torture centers” in its warehouses.