The Elusive Distance: Unraveling The Secrets Between Mother Base And Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Asia, bordered by Pakistan, Iran, the former Soviet Union, Zanzibar Land, and China. It is nicknamed the heart of Asia due to its central location. The country is mountainous and has a dynamic landscape that includes farmland, deserts, and valleys.

Mother Base is a fictional military base in the Metal Gear video game series. It is the headquarters of the private military company Diamond Dogs, led by Kazuhira Miller. In the game, Mother Base is located in northern Kabul, Afghanistan.

While the exact distance between Afghanistan and Mother Base is not explicitly stated, it can be assumed that they are relatively close, given that Miller and his team were able to travel back and forth between the two locations.

Bagram Air Base, formerly the largest US military base in Afghanistan

The base was originally built by the Soviet Union during the early Cold War, when the US and the Soviets were spreading political influence in Afghanistan. It was expanded and modernised by the Americans and was able to house 10,000 troops in 2009. The base was staffed by the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing of the US Air Force, along with rotating units of the US and coalition forces.

Bagram Air Base was the site of a suicide attack in 2007 that killed up to 23 people and injured 20 more. The attack occurred when Dick Cheney, then Vice-President of the US, was visiting Afghanistan.

In 2021, the US vacated Bagram Air Base as part of its withdrawal from Afghanistan. The base was looted by civilians soon after US forces left the area.

Shindand Air Base, a co-base shared by the US and NATO countries

Shindand Air Base is a co-base shared by the US and NATO countries. It is located in the western part of Afghanistan, in the Shindand District of Herat Province, about 15 miles northeast of the town of Shindand (also known as Sabzwar). The base is of strategic importance due to its proximity to the Iranian border, just 75 miles away.

The Shindand Air Base was originally built by the Soviet Armed Forces in 1961 and was heavily used during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the base came under Afghan control and became the heart of the Afghan Air Force. However, the base was repeatedly bombed in 2002 during the search for al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, causing significant damage to its runway.

In 2004, the base was recaptured by the Afghan National Army with advisors from the US Army. Since then, the base has undergone significant expansion and refurbishment, including the construction of a perimeter fence, guard towers, and new taxiways and runways capable of accommodating large military aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III. The base can now house over a hundred military aircraft.

The US presence at Shindand Air Base includes the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, which supports the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and has been involved in training the Afghan Air Force. The base has also been used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for secret surveillance missions over Iran and Afghanistan, utilizing drones such as the RQ-170.

In addition to the US, other NATO and non-NATO countries have contributed personnel to the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan (NATC-A), which was activated in 2010. These contributing countries include Belgium, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Portugal, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and others.

The Shindand Air Base played a crucial role in the training and development of the Afghan Air Force, with the NATC-A working to rebuild and modernize the Afghan aviation capabilities. However, in August 2021, the base fell to the Taliban, who captured weaponry and vehicles from the Afghan forces.

Kandahar International Airport, one of the largest airports in Afghanistan

Kandahar International Airport, also known as Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport, is located in the Daman District of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan. It is one of the largest airports in the country and serves as the nation's second main international airport. The airport is situated approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 miles) southeast of Kandahar City.

Kandahar International Airport was originally built in the early 1960s by the United States at a cost of about 15 million US dollars. The airfield was completed in 1962 by an American company, Morrison-Knudsen, which was contracted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The airport was designed as a safe refuelling stop for long-range piston-engined aircraft travelling between Europe and Southeast Asia. However, with the advent of jet aircraft, such refuelling stops became unnecessary, and the airport saw little use.

During the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s, the airport was occupied by Soviet forces and served as a logistical facility for flying in troops and supplies, as well as a base for launching airstrikes against local Mujahideen groups. The intense fighting in the Kandahar area during this period left the airport relatively untouched, with only the airstrip suffering extensive damage.

Since 2007, the airport has undergone significant repairs and expansions. It is capable of accommodating up to 250 aircraft of different sizes and can support all types of aircraft, including large military transport planes such as the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and the Antonov An-225 Mriya. The airport is used for both military and civilian flights, with the military section maintained by the Afghan Armed Forces and security provided by the Afghan National Police.

In recent years, Kandahar International Airport has been a key base for US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. It was transferred to Afghan security forces in May 2021 as part of the US withdrawal from the country. The airport has a challenging approach for pilots due to its remote location and the surrounding desert terrain, making it difficult to identify during the day because of its colour and the dusty conditions in the area.

Camp Dwyer Marine Base, a Forward Operating Base to combat insurgent activity

Camp Dwyer was a United States Marine Corps military camp located in the Helmand River Valley in the Garmsir District of Afghanistan's Helmand Province. The base was originally established as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) to combat insurgent activity in the Helmand Valley, a hotbed of terrorist activity.

The Helmand area of Afghanistan is often referred to as "Hell Man" by American soldiers and marines due to its harsh weather conditions. The area is also subject to sandstorms that can reduce visibility to zero in a matter of seconds. The unpredictable weather, coupled with the rugged terrain, makes the area relatively uninhabited and ideal for insurgent forces.

Camp Dwyer was set up to be a fully functioning Marine Corps outpost that could work in conjunction with Afghan security forces to patrol the dangerous Helmand River Valley. The base was named after British Lance Bombardier James Dwyer, who was killed in 2006 while on patrol in southern Helmand Province.

The primary mission of Camp Dwyer was to secure the area of southern Helmand Province from Taliban and insurgent activities. Marines at the base were also tasked with providing logistical, air, ground, and communication support to US and Coalition forces, along with the Afghanistan Border Police and security forces. In addition, they worked to stem the flow of drug trafficking and played a role in shutting down child trafficking operations.

Camp Dwyer was originally intended to be a temporary FOB. However, its strategic value became quickly apparent, and it transitioned into a more permanent installation through a mutual agreement between the US and Afghan governments. The base was significantly expanded in 2009 and renamed Camp Dwyer.

Despite the desolate location, Camp Dwyer had some amenities for its Marines, including air conditioning, a small PX, satellite internet access, a laundry facility, showers, and a gym. The base also had a small post office, allowing Marines to send and receive mail.

Camp Dwyer played a crucial role in combating insurgent activity in the Helmand Valley, contributing to the overall US mission in Afghanistan.

Camp Leatherneck, home base of most US Marine Corps operations in Afghanistan

Camp Leatherneck, located in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, served as the main hub of US Marine Corps operations across southern Afghanistan. The base was built in 2008 and initially served as a barren outpost for 4,000 Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and civilian contractors. Over time, it expanded into a 1,600-acre modern military facility, capable of accommodating up to 20,000 personnel. Camp Leatherneck was conjoined with Camp Bastion, the main British military base in Afghanistan, and Camp Shorabak, initially the main Afghan section. These three sites were later joined under the name of 'Camp Shorabak' in 2014.

The base was designed with efficiency and speed of construction in mind, built in modular 'blocks' to allow for concurrent construction and troop occupancy. The base featured various amenities and facilities to support the large number of personnel. These included multiple dining facilities, gyms, a PX store, a phone centre, and religious services. The construction of Camp Leatherneck was not without criticism, as there were instances of wasteful spending, such as the construction of a $33 million headquarters building that was never used.

Camp Leatherneck played a crucial role in the US military's operations in Afghanistan, serving as a way station for troops patrolling the region. In October 2014, the US officially marked the end of their operations in Afghanistan, transferring Camp Leatherneck to Afghan control. The withdrawal from the base was a meticulously choreographed tactical operation, ensuring the safe departure of US troops and equipment.

The legacy of Camp Leatherneck and the US presence in Afghanistan is complex. While the base provided a strategic hub for military operations, the overall US-led campaign resulted in significant human and economic costs. The withdrawal also left the Afghan National Army with the challenging task of facing the Taliban with limited resources and inadequate training.

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