Two airstrips that don’t ‘exist’

[fatman17]

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

Two airstrips that don’t ‘exist’

* Website claims that the airstrips are used exclusively by US forces
* Pakistan and US share Jacobabad and Pasni airbases

By Khalid Hasan

WASHINGTON: Two large airstrips, one near Wana and the other near Nokundi, are believed to be for the exclusive use of the United States for security operations in Afghanistan and the Tribal Areas, as they are not under the control of either the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), or the Pakistan Air Force.

The two airstrips, which can hold large aircraft, lack the any customs or immigration, health, animal and plant quarantine facilities or an Airport Security Force. According to Globalsecurity.org, another airfield at Dalbandin is one of three Pakistani bases used by the US and allied forces to support the Operation Enduring Freedom campaign in Afghanistan. The other bases at Jacobabad and Pasni are far more distant from the Afghan border, and are used for logistical support.

Shared: However, the Dalbandin base is relatively remote and is in a province where many Pakistanis share ethnic and religious kinship with the Taliban. In late December 2001, Pakistan notified the US that the bases at Jacobabad and Pasni might be needed by the Pakistan Air Force, in the wake of rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The facilities were partially reclaimed by Pakistan, and as of early January 2002, both Pakistani and American forces were operating at the two airfields. The US military retained exclusive use of the Dalbandin and Shamsi bases. By March 2004, there were reports of increased US operations in Pakistan. Two air bases — Dalbandin and Shahbaz — were the focus for extensive movements to provide logistical support for Special Forces and intelligence operations.s.

Dalbandin airstrip was constructed in 1935 to serve as a satellite of the Samungli Air Base at Quetta. During the Second World War, it was made operational by the RAF to meet a possible Russian invasion through Iran. In the 1970s, Dalbandin was a disused airfield before it was taken over by the CAA in 1985. It was then provided with modern navigational aids, air traffic control facilities, passenger terminals and a paved runway. There is regularly scheduled Pakistan International Airlines service to the airport. While not a military facility, this airfield is available to the Pakistan Air Force for emergency landing and recovery of aircraft during peacetime and wartime.

According to Agence France Presse, there are 40 airports in Pakistan, out of which only seven are for exclusive military use. The longest runways, measuring 12,000 feet, are at Quetta and Skardu, followed by Lahore (11,000 ft), Islamabad (10,900 ft), Mianwali (10,100 ft), Karachi (10,500 ft), Jacobabad (10,000 ft) and Rafiqi (10,000 ft).

[x_man]

I think that the writer (Khalid Hassan) has overstated few things in his article. It is true that Pakistan offered few airfields to US in connection with WoT and will continue to do so , but its not right that these airfields were exclusively opearted by US forces. All Administrational and Operational control still remains with PAF and our aircrafts are free to operate from any of these airfields.

Writer also refered to Agence France Presse, that there are 40 airports in Pakistan, out of which only seven are for exclusive military use !!!!! I am not sure sure if he wants to say that if only 07 are for Miliary use ?? Because ,just in Punjab, the airfields that are fighter capable are, Sargodha, Shorkot,Chaklala,Murid,Faisalabad,Multan,Lahore,Mi anwali,Rahim Yar Khan ,Rajanpur ,Vehari,Chander .....that makes 12 ,only in Punjab .....

I believe that PAF is pretty happy with the number of Main and Forward Operating Bases and these airfields are also capable to handle and support all future PAFs fleet expansion plans ..

[blain2]

All of the airbases where the US assets are co-hosted are secured by DSG. A while back, Air Commodore Kaiser Tufail had written an article "Jacobabad Tales" which had some really interesting insights about PAF and US personnel dynamics at the airbase. It was worth a read. It is still available in PakDef E-Reporter Volume 1, issue #3 here:
Pakistan Military Consortium :: www.PakDef.info

One other point, GlobalSecurity is nothing credible to quote from. Unfortunately most Pakistanis have no idea about the quality of the stuff at GS and probably get impressed by a simple reference to it.

[fatman17]

^^^its a claim made by the website GS and Khalid Hassan is only reporting it because its news about Pakistan and WoT. i have met Khalid Hassan and he is a able journalist.

[Muradk]

Originally Posted by fatman17

^^^its a claim made by the website GS and Khalid Hassan is only reporting it because its news about Pakistan and WoT. i have met Khalid Hassan and he is a able journalist.

Yes no doubt he is a Able journalist, but he needs to realise that Pakistani Kum on the whole is very sensitive to such matters, Why open a Pandoras Box. The people who know about it dont speak the ones who know speak in the same circle.

[fatman17]

Originally Posted by Muradk

Yes no doubt he is a Able journalist, but he needs to realise that Pakistani Kum on the whole is very sensitive to such matters, Why open a Pandoras Box. The people who know about it dont speak the ones who know speak in the same circle.

Sir, u r correct but with all due respect such news sells and newspapers will print such stuff.

[Muradk]

Originally Posted by fatman17

Sir, u r correct but with all due respect such news sells and newspapers will print such stuff.

Yar what do you call those one page news papers zamina , zamim something like that comes out with headlines says US has taken Over Pakistani Air bases, People are going to go crazy plus Right Now the biggest problem we as Pakistan is facing are the ( Sharif brothers ) , Just because he is not the prime minister he can say no UASF in FATA and keep poisoning the minds of common man.