Trump Pushes for Return of U.S. Control Over Key Afghan Air Base; Taliban Rejects Demand
Four years after the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, former President Donald Trump has called for Washington to regain control of the Bagram air base, a demand swiftly rejected by the Taliban. The Trump camp said Thursday that the former president has long sought the return of the sprawling facility, once America’s largest military installation in the region. Trump argued that Bagram is strategically vital to counter China’s growing influence and to monitor rivals across South and Central Asia. “We simply handed over the base to the Taliban for free,” Trump said, describing the site as “the biggest air base in the world” with a 3,600-meter runway capable of handling everything from cargo planes to bombers. He added that its location, less than an hour from China’s missile production sites, makes it critical for U.S. defense interests. The former president also noted that Bagram would provide the U.S. with an advantage in keeping watch over Russia. The Taliban, however, dismissed the idea. Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zakir Jalal, wrote on social media that Washington should seek “friendly relations” with Kabul but ruled out any American troop presence. “There is no place for U.S. forces in Afghanistan,” Jalal said. “We want diplomatic and economic ties with the United States, but only on the basis of mutual respect.” Located north of Kabul, Bagram has a long and controversial history. Soviet forces first used it as a launchpad during their 1979 invasion, and later it became the hub of America’s two-decade-long war in Afghanistan. The site also housed a notorious prison where thousands were detained without charges. When the U.S. withdrew in 2021 under the Biden administration, the base was handed over to the Taliban. Trump had strongly opposed the pullout at the time and has since accused Beijing of exerting control over the site.
Singer Zubeen Garg Dies in Singapore Scuba Diving Accident
Popular Indian singer Zubeen Garg died Friday in a scuba diving accident in Singapore, police said. He was 52. Garg, who had traveled to Singapore to perform at the “Northeast Festival,” was scheduled to appear on stage the same evening. Authorities said the singer experienced breathing difficulties while diving around 1:30 p.m. local time. He was rescued from the sea and rushed to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. Festival organizers confirmed the accident and said medical personnel attempted to save him but were unsuccessful. Garg, widely known for his work in Assamese and Hindi music, had been hospitalized in May after suffering from fever and cold. At that time, his close friend Raju Baruah said the singer had complained of abdominal pain during a film premiere and had to be admitted for treatment. News of Garg’s sudden death left India’s entertainment industry in shock. Music composer Jeet Gannguli and actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee were among those who expressed condolences.
Durga Angan temple project begins in Kolkata’s New Town
The West Bengal government has begun work on “Durga Angan,” a large temple complex in New Town conceived by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, marking the Trinamool Congress leader’s latest push to highlight her government’s cultural projects ahead of next year’s Assembly elections. Banerjee had announced the project from the Trinamool’s July 21 rally, a platform traditionally used for key political messages. The state Cabinet cleared the plan in mid-August, and the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) has since invited bids and started preliminary work. The temple complex is being built on 12.6 acres near Eco Park, adjacent to land owned by the Ramakrishna Mission. The plot is also close to a hotel where senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, often stay while in Kolkata — a coincidence that has not gone unnoticed in political circles. According to the bid documents issued on Aug. 22, the estimated cost of construction is set at 2.62 billion rupees ($313 million). The deadline for bid submissions was Sept. 11, after which groundwork began. Workers have started raising the land level with earth-filling, officials said. The construction timeline has been fixed at 24 months from the date of the contract, which means the project is expected to be completed by September 2027 if no political upheaval intervenes. The move follows Banerjee’s inauguration of the Jagannath Dham temple in Digha earlier this year, a project also overseen by Hidco. Political analysts see the temples as part of a broader strategy to blunt the BJP’s Hindutva campaign by projecting Banerjee as a leader committed to inclusive religious traditions. For more than a decade, Trinamool has maintained a near-monopoly on minority votes, a bloc the BJP has accused the ruling party of appeasing at the expense of Hindus. In recent years, the saffron party has sharpened its messaging around this accusation, seeking to consolidate Hindu voters. Banerjee, however, insists her projects reflect her belief in communal harmony. Meanwhile, Hidco itself has undergone significant changes. The agency, long under the purview of the Urban Development Department, was shifted last December to the Administrative Reforms and Personnel Department, which Banerjee directly heads. Leadership has also changed hands: veteran minister Firhad Hakim was replaced as Hidco chairman late last year, with former chief secretary H.K. Dwivedi holding interim charge before finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya took over last week. As the 2026 polls approach, the Durga Angan temple is likely to serve not only as a cultural landmark but also as a political symbol in West Bengal’s fiercely contested electoral landscape.
