Total Eclipse Of The Sun: Bagram Airfield's Skywatchers In For A Treat

Bagram Airfield, formerly the largest US military base in Afghanistan, has been the site of numerous historical events, including the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. With its proximity to Kabul and strategic importance, the airfield has frequently come under attack by the Taliban. On August 15, 2021, the base fell to Taliban forces after the surrender of the NATO-trained Afghan National Army, leading to the release of all prisoners at the Parwan Detention Facility. The airfield has witnessed significant expansion and modernisation by the Americans, including the construction of two concrete runways, capable of handling large military aircraft. The base has played a crucial role in housing troops and facilitating operations during the war in Afghanistan.

The US withdrawal from Bagram Airfield

The withdrawal of US troops from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan signalled the end of America's longest war. The airfield, once a bustling mini-city, was the centre of operations for the war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks.

The departure was not without controversy. Afghan military officials accused the US of leaving in secret, turning off the electricity, and causing a security lapse that allowed looters to ransack the base before Afghan troops could retake control. The Pentagon denied these claims, stating that the withdrawal had been communicated to high-level Afghan officials and that there was coordination with Afghan leaders.

Bagram Airfield played a significant role in the war in Afghanistan, serving as the hub of the American-led war against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. At its peak, the airfield saw more than 100,000 US troops pass through, and it featured a detention facility likened by human rights groups to Guantanamo Bay. The war in Afghanistan cost the lives of around 2,300 US troops and left thousands more wounded, with estimates of over 100,000 Afghans killed or wounded.

The withdrawal from Bagram Airfield was a symbolic victory for the Taliban, who had waged a relentless battle against the Afghan military. However, a Taliban spokesman called the withdrawal of foreign forces a "positive step," expressing hope for peace and development in Afghanistan. The US withdrawal from Bagram Airfield marked a significant moment in the two-decade-long war and the eventual end of America's military presence in the country.

The history of Bagram Airfield

Bagram Airfield, also known as Bagram Air Base, is located 11 kilometres southeast of Charikar in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan. The air base sits on the site of ancient Bagram and is situated at an elevation of 1,492 metres above sea level. It was formerly the largest US military base in Afghanistan, with two concrete runways capable of handling large military aircraft. The base was under the control of the US Air Force's 455th Air Expeditionary Wing and housed rotating units of US and coalition forces.

In 2001, during the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, British troops secured Bagram Airfield, and it became the largest US base in the country. Over the years, the base expanded significantly, with the addition of new runways, support buildings, housing areas, and dining facilities. The base also included a hospital, fitness centres, and fast-food restaurants.

In 2006, a new 12,000-foot-long runway was constructed at a cost of $68 million, allowing larger aircraft to land. Bagram Airfield also included a detention facility, which was the subject of controversy due to alleged prisoner abuse and torture.

The base was frequently visited by high-profile US officials, including President George W. Bush, who made several trips to address the troops. In 2019, President Donald Trump visited the base to serve Thanksgiving meals to the troops.

In 2021, the US began its withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Bagram Airfield was secretly evacuated by US forces in July of that year. The departure sparked concerns about the potential fall of the base to the Taliban and the fate of the prisoners held in the detention facility. The US left behind a significant amount of equipment and supplies, while destroying other items to prevent them from falling into Taliban hands.

The Afghan National Army took control of the airfield after the US departure but later surrendered it to the Taliban on August 15, 2021. The fall of Bagram Airfield marked a significant turning point in the US withdrawal and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.

The Taliban's attacks on Bagram Airfield

Bagram Airfield, formerly the largest US military base in Afghanistan, has been the target of multiple attacks by the Taliban since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

In February 2007, a suicide attack at one of the security gates killed 23 people and injured 20 more. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred while Dick Cheney, the then-Vice President of the United States, was visiting.

In June 2009, a rocket attack by the Taliban killed two US soldiers and wounded at least six others.

In May 2010, a group of insurgents attacked the north end of the base, killing one American contractor and wounding nine service members. The attackers were dressed in US Army uniforms.

In June 2013, a Taliban mortar attack killed four American troops and injured several others.

In November 2016, an Afghan contractor conducted a suicide bombing, killing four Americans and injuring 17 others.

In April 2019, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a roadside bomb attack near the base that killed three US Marines and injured three others.

In December 2019, a suicide bomber targeted a medical facility under construction adjacent to the base, killing two Afghan civilians and wounding dozens of others.

On 11 December 2019, the Taliban attacked Bagram Air Base with two car bombs, killing two civilians and injuring 80 others. This was followed by an assault on the western part of the base. The attack was repelled by US-led NATO forces, and there were no casualties among the coalition forces.

The US invasion of Afghanistan

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan was triggered by the September 11 attacks and consisted of three phases. The first phase was to topple the Taliban regime and lasted just two months.

Phase 1: Toppling the Taliban Regime

The Taliban was an ultraconservative political and religious faction that ruled Afghanistan and provided sanctuary for al-Qaeda, the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks. Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, had been active in Afghanistan since the Soviet-Afghan War and was wanted by the FBI for his role in the 1998 United States embassy bombings.

In response to the attacks, US President George W. Bush declared a "War on Terror" and demanded that the Taliban government extradite Osama bin Laden to the United States and expel al-Qaeda militants from Afghanistan. When the Taliban refused, the US launched Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7, 2001, alongside the United Kingdom.

The invasion consisted of American, British, Canadian, and Australian forces, with other countries providing logistical support. The coalition forces captured Kabul on November 13 and toppled the Taliban by December 17, after which international military bases were set up near major cities across the country.

Phase 2: Defeating the Taliban and Rebuilding Afghanistan

The second phase, from 2002 until 2008, was marked by a US strategy of defeating the Taliban militarily and rebuilding core institutions of the Afghan state. However, the Taliban soon regrouped and launched an insurgency against the American-led war effort.

In 2004, the US shifted its focus to Iraq, drawing resources away from Afghanistan. This, coupled with the slow progress of reconstruction efforts and the unpopularity of continuing American counter-terrorism operations, allowed the Taliban to gain support.

Phase 3: Counterinsurgency

The third phase, which began in 2008, saw a return to classic counterinsurgency tactics. US President Barack Obama's decision in 2009 to temporarily increase US troop presence in Afghanistan accelerated this phase. The larger force was used to implement a strategy of protecting the Afghan population from Taliban attacks and supporting efforts to reintegrate insurgents into Afghan society.

However, the strategy largely failed to achieve its aims, and by the time the US and NATO combat mission formally ended in December 2014, the Afghanistan War had become the longest war ever fought by the United States.

The size and capacity of Bagram Airfield

Bagram Airfield, also known as Bagram Air Base, is located 11 kilometres southeast of Charikar in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan. It is jointly operated by the United States Army and Air Force, with occupying forces including the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The base also houses Coalition Forces and civilians.

The airfield features two runways capable of handling large military aircraft. The main runway measures 3,602 by 46 metres, while the second runway measures 2,953 by 26 metres. In addition, the base includes three large hangars, a control tower, numerous support buildings, and various housing areas. There are also over 13 hectares of ramp space and five aircraft dispersal areas.

Bagram Airfield has undergone significant expansion and improvements over the years. It offers dining and recreational facilities, as well as educational opportunities for troops. The base has grown in size and capacity, reaching a population of over 7,000 US and other armed services personnel by mid-June 2002. By 2007, the base had become akin to a small town, with traffic jams and a variety of commercial shops. The base was able to accommodate 10,000 troops in 2009.

In terms of medical facilities, the Heathe N. Craig Joint Theater Hospital is a 50-bed military hospital with advanced medical equipment, a trauma bay, three operating theatres, and a modern dental clinic.

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