ISLAMABAD:

A group of 10 powerful and influential countries that included China, Russia, Iran, India and Pakistan on Tuesday opposed any attempts by the United States to regain foothold in Afghanistan by retaking control of the strategically important Bagram Airbase.

Without explicitly naming the US, a joint statement issued after the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan read: "They called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability."

The statement came against the backdrop of recent announcement by President Donald Trump in which he sought to retake control of the biggest air facility in Afghanistan. The Taliban government already made

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