(Unconfirmed) Taliban has given Bagram AB to the Chinese. : Veterans

What the article says is that someone, not named, saw the lights on and Chinese military planes landing and taking off. The picture could be old, and is not attributed.

It’s too soon to say “The Chinese have taken over Bagram.” But I wouldn’t doubt the Chinese see an opportunity and came in with aid and cash. Afghanistan has a wealth of mineral deposits which China needs and there are reliable reports of negotiations between the Chinese and Afghanistan’s neighbors on building surface access, road or rail, from China’s western frontier into Afghanistan. The mountains bordering the two countries make it impractical to cut a direct route.

Prediction: China will make Afghanistan a major target of Belt-and-Road initiatives, pay off Afghan leaders, put the country in debt to it (classic imperial tactic), interfere in its government and eventually cause an armed backlash. What do I base my prediction on? Hmm, let’s see, how many centuries of history?