Bagram Air Base in News

Bagram Air Base: History, Strategic Importance, and Legacy 

Introduction 

Bagram Air Base, located about 40 kilometers north of Kabul in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, was the largest U.S. military base in the country and one of the most significant military installations during the War on Terror. Known as the nerve center of American military operations in Afghanistan, Bagram symbolized U.S. power projection in South Asia for nearly two decades until its final evacuation in July 2021.

Historical Background 

* Soviet Era: Bagram was originally built in the 1950s by the Soviet Union as part of Cold War geopolitics. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979–1989), it served as a major operational hub for the Red Army. 

* Civil War and Taliban Era: After the Soviet withdrawal, the base was contested among Afghan factions during the civil war. By the late 1990s, it fell into the hands of the Taliban before being seized by U.S. forces in 2001. 

U.S. and NATO Use 

* Post-2001 Takeover: Following the September 11 attacks and subsequent U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, Bagram Air Base became the central command and logistical hub for American and NATO forces. 

* Infrastructure Expansion: The U.S. heavily upgraded the facility, adding multiple runways, aircraft shelters, barracks, hospitals, and high-security prisons. At its peak, the base had two runways, each over 11,000 feet long, capable of handling heavy bombers and cargo planes. 

* Personnel and Equipment: At the height of operations, more than 40,000 military personnel and contractors were stationed at Bagram. The base supported drone operations, combat missions, surveillance, and logistics across Afghanistan. 

Strategic Importance 

• Location Advantage: Positioned in Parwan Province, close to the Hindu Kush mountains, the base was strategically located to project air power across Afghanistan and into neighboring regions like Pakistan, Central Asia, and even Iran. 

• Counterterrorism Operations: Bagram played a vital role in targeting Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and later ISIS-K militants. Its facilities included advanced intelligence-gathering systems and drone operations centers. 

• Medical and Humanitarian Use: The base housed one of the largest U.S. military hospitals in the region, treating thousands of wounded soldiers and sometimes Afghan civilians. 

Controversies 

• Detention Center: Bagram was infamous for its prison, officially called the Parwan Detention Facility. Human rights organizations frequently criticized it for alleged abuse, torture, and indefinite detentions. 

• Civilian Impact: While Bagram was a symbol of U.S. strength, locals often saw it as a source of friction due to airstrikes, property seizures, and economic disruption. 

U.S. Withdrawal 

* In July 2021, U.S. forces vacated Bagram Air Base in the dead of night without informing Afghan allies immediately. This sudden withdrawal symbolized the nearing end of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan. 

* After the U.S. exit, the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces briefly held the base, but it eventually fell to the Taliban on August 15, 2021, during their rapid takeover of Afghanistan. 

Legacy 

Bagram Air Base remains a powerful symbol of America’s longest war. For the U.S., it represented both military strength and the immense cost of the Afghan conflict. For Afghans, it was a reminder of foreign intervention, mixed with both security and suffering. Today, under Taliban control, its future role is uncertain, but it still holds strategic importance due to its infrastructure and location.

Key Facts at a Glance 

• Location: Parwan Province, Afghanistan (40 km north of Kabul) 

• Built: 1950s by the Soviet Union 

• Runways: Two, each over 11,000 feet long 

• Peak Personnel: ~40,000 (U.S. troops and contractors) 

• Role: Central hub for U.S. and NATO operations, intelligence, drone warfare, logistics, and medical facilities 

• Closed by U.S.: July 2, 2021 

• Current Control: Taliban (since August 2021)