Lois Larson
Kabul International Airport has had a turbulent history, from its construction in the 1920s to the recent 2021 suicide bombing. The airport has been a critical hub for travel and military operations in Afghanistan, but its future remains uncertain. With the Taliban's return to power, the airport was the site of a massive evacuation effort by the US and its allies, as thousands of Afghan citizens and foreign nationals sought to flee the country. Now, the focus shifts to keeping the airport operational for much-needed humanitarian aid flights and maintaining security under Taliban rule. The world watches with anticipation, hoping to see a functioning airport that can facilitate the delivery of aid and support to those in need in Afghanistan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original Name | Khwaja Rawash Airport |
| Current Name | Kabul International Airport |
| Previous Names | Kabul Airport, Hamid Karzai International Airport |
| Location | Khwaja Rawash, Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Altitude | 1,791 m (5,876 ft) above sea level |
| Surroundings | Parts of the Hindu Kush mountains |
| Airlines | Ariana Airlines, Kam Air, Air Arabia, Flydubai, Turkish Airlines |
| Terminals | 2 (one for international passengers and one for domestic flights) |
| History | Built in the 1920s, modernized in 1960, used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989), closed in the late 1990s due to international sanctions, bombed by US and coalition forces in 2001, new radar system installed in 2005, new international terminal inaugurated in 2008 |
| Notable Events | 2021 Kabul airport attack, evacuation of US troops and Afghan citizens in 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
The airport's name has changed multiple times
The airport serving Kabul, Afghanistan's capital and most populous city, has indeed changed names multiple times. The airport was originally named Khwaja Rawash Airport as it was built in the area called Khwaja Rawash. It was then renamed Kabul Airport in 1960 when the Soviet Union built a terminal and a concrete runway.
In October 2014, the National Assembly of Afghanistan proposed naming the airport after former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a month after his term ended, in recognition of his services and contributions to the country's rebuilding. This decision was approved by the Cabinet of the new President Ashraf Ghani, and so the airport was renamed Hamid Karzai International Airport.
After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the name was changed back to Kabul International Airport. This airport has been the military base for various defence forces and has also served as the main hub for Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air.
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The airport was attacked in 2021
In the aftermath of the attack, US President Biden honoured the US service members who were killed, calling them "heroes" and expressing sorrow for the Afghan victims. Biden also issued a warning to those who wished harm upon the US, stating that they would be hunted down. The attack was widely condemned by other nations, including the United Kingdom, Germany, the European Commission, and the United Nations. The US and its coalition partners evacuated more than 123,000 people from Afghanistan via airlifts from Kabul International Airport during this period.
Following the attack, the US launched an unmanned airstrike on 27 August against three suspected ISIS–K members in Nangarhar Province, two of whom were described as "high-profile ISIS targets". On 29 August, the US conducted a second drone strike in Kabul, targeting a vehicle suspected of carrying ISIS–K members. However, the vehicle was later found to be carrying an Afghan aid worker, and the strike resulted in the deaths of ten Afghan civilians, including seven children.
The Kabul airport attack highlighted the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan during the Taliban's major offensive in 2021. It also underscored the challenges faced by the US and its allies in evacuating their citizens and allies from the country. The attack had a significant impact on the ground, with the US and other countries evacuating their embassies and continuing their evacuation efforts from Afghanistan.
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The airport has two separate terminals
Kabul International Airport, originally named Khwaja Rawash Airport, has had a tumultuous history. The airport was built in the 1920s during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan and housed the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post aircraft. It was renamed Kabul Airport in 1960, and later that decade, it was modernized by Soviet engineers. The airport has two separate terminals, one for international passengers and the other for domestic flights.
The airport has been at the centre of several conflicts and has changed hands multiple times. From 1979 to 1989, it was used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War. In 1996, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, governed by Mullah Muhammad Omar, took possession of the airport until they fled in 2001 following the US invasion of Afghanistan. During this time, the airport was closed, with very limited international flights due to international sanctions during the Taliban government.
After the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the airport slowly began to develop. A new radar system was installed in 2005, and in 2008, a new $35 million terminal for international flights was inaugurated with aid from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. In 2014, the airport was renamed Hamid Karzai International Airport in honour of former President Hamid Karzai.
In 2021, as the US and its coalition partners withdrew troops from Afghanistan, Kabul International Airport became a crucial evacuation point. Between 14 and 30 August 2021, over 123,000 people were evacuated from the country via airlifts from the airport. During this time, it remained under NATO and US military control, even as the central government collapsed. The Taliban's Abdul Ghani Baradar arrived at the airport to prepare for the takeover of the government, and the airport's name was changed back to Kabul International Airport.
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The airport was used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War
The history of Kabul International Airport is a tumultuous one, with its control and name changing hands several times over the decades. Originally built in the 1920s during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan, the airport was first known as Khwaja Rawash Airport as it was built in the area called Khwaja Rawash. It housed the aircraft of the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post.
The airport underwent modernisation in 1960 at the hands of Soviet engineers, who constructed a new terminal and a concrete runway. This modernisation led to the airport being renamed Kabul Airport, and it began to receive foreign tourists visiting Afghanistan. However, this era of relative peace was short-lived as the 1978 Saur Revolution and the subsequent 1979 Soviet invasion disrupted the country.
During the Soviet-Afghan War, from 1979 to 1989, the airport played a strategic role for the Soviet Army. It served as a crucial hub for their military operations and logistics in the country. The Soviet forces utilised the airport's facilities to deploy troops, transport supplies, and provide air support for their ground forces engaged in the conflict with Afghan mujahideen groups.
The Soviet-Afghan War was a prolonged and bloody conflict that resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The airport itself became a target for the mujahideen groups, who sought to disrupt Soviet supply lines and hinder their air superiority. In 1985, an Antonov An-30 aircraft of the Soviet Air Force was struck by a Strela missile upon returning to the airport. While the captain attempted an emergency landing at a nearby airbase, the fire caused by the missile strike led to a loss of control, resulting in the deaths of two out of the five crew members. This incident highlighted the dangers faced by Soviet forces operating from the airport during the war.
Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1988-1989, the airport continued to be a site of contention and witnessed further conflict. The country descended into a civil war, with different factions vying for control of the airport. Eventually, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, governed by Mullah Muhammad Omar, took possession of the airport in 1996. However, their rule was short-lived as the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 led to their ouster and a shift in the airport's control once again.
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The airport is the subject of a documentary
The documentary includes interviews with Taliban fighters, US Marines, eyewitnesses, and evacuees, as well as never-before-seen archival footage from the ground. It provides a raw and personal account of the events that took place during the 18-day evacuation, with first-person narratives from those who were present at the scene. The film's director, Jamie Roberts, stated that he wanted to see the evacuation from the eyes of the people on the ground and capture their experiences in a dramatic and detailed manner.
Escape from Kabul Airport also sheds light on the activities that ensued in Afghanistan after the US withdrawal, the impact of the Taliban takeover, and the efforts to keep the airport open for humanitarian aid flights. The documentary mentions the deadly suicide bombing that took place outside the airport during the evacuation, which was claimed by ISIS-K, resulting in the deaths of US service members and Afghan civilians.
The film highlights the challenges faced by Afghans trying to leave the country, the concerns about the safety of refugees, and the impact on the delivery of medical supplies and aid. It also touches on the US-Taliban deal, signed in February 2020, and the Taliban's desire for a functioning airport, as stressed by US officials.
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Frequently asked questions
Kabul Airport, originally named Khwaja Rawash Airport, is an airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. It was built in the 1920s and houses aircraft for the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post. It was renamed Hamid Karzai International Airport in 2014, in honour of former president Hamid Karzai, but its name was changed back to Kabul International Airport in 2021 when the Taliban returned to power.
In August 2021, the US and its coalition partners evacuated over 123,000 people from Afghanistan via Kabul Airport, including foreign diplomatic staff, military personnel, civilians, journalists, and human rights activists. This was the largest non-combatant evacuation operation in US military history. During this evacuation, a suicide bombing took place at the airport, killing at least 182 people, including 169 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members.
"Escape from Kabul Airport" is a documentary that aired on BBC Two in September 2021. It tells the story of the evacuation of thousands of Afghan citizens from Kabul Airport in August 2021 when the US withdrew its troops and the Taliban took control.
The future of Kabul Airport is uncertain. In August 2021, NATO allies expressed concerns about keeping the airport open for humanitarian aid flights after the withdrawal of foreign troops. While the Taliban has expressed interest in maintaining a functioning airport, it is unclear what the airport's operations will look like going forward.
