But the Drones: They fly from Bandari - Baluchistan
By A Khokar • Apr 13th, 2009 • Category: Politics • 17 CommentsPakistan’s Foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a recent joint press conference with the special envoy to the region, Richard C. Holbrooke and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen at his side, said: “We did talk about drones, and let me be very frank: there is a gap between us.” He added, “The bottom line is the question of trust.”
At this news conference at the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Qureshi raised his voice to admonish the two Americans. “The terms of engagement are very clear,” he said. “We will engage with mutual trust and mutual respect, and that is the bottom line.”
He added: “We can only work together if we respect each other and trust each other. There is no other way and nothing else will work.”
On the other hand Obama administration officials have said there will be “no blank check for Pakistan.” In response, Mr. Qureshi said Pakistan would “neither accept nor give one.”
Above excerpts from a press conference of US envoys and Pakistani foreign minister shows a very strong stance and a tough line taken by the Pakistan’s government. Previously Pakistan is always seen giving a very apologetic outlook in such like press conferences. There seems to be a big change in Pakistan’s foreign policy and especially about the Drones attack issue that public is so weary of. Hundreds of innocent people have been targeted aimlessly and killed including women and children under the pretext of engaging the Al Qaeda fugitives and operatives sheltering in FATA area.
But question arises that there are glaring evidences that these Drones are flown from an isolated but state of the art US built Airport situated some 80 kilometer south of Kharan in Baluchistan called Bandari. What all Mr Mahood shah Qureshi has to say about that?
Available data about Bandari Drones Airport is as follow:
· Google Earth map coordinates of Bandari aero drum are 27.5N and 65.10 E and this station is seen as fully operational. Geogle images are updated about every 6 months.
· This is an all weather Aero-drum which is about 28000 feet long with its ground lay out extending from NW to SE.
· On its NW end, it has got the operational command Headquarters and other service buildings with a huge igloo shaped hanger built, which can accommodate number of drones inside. Reportedly this hanger was built in 2006. Other Google earth satellites picture shows 3 drone Predators MQ1 standing on the tarmac when this hanger was not built.
· There is a good net work of other service roads around this aero-drum.
· In the south of aero-drum at a distance of about a kilometer there is a well secured living compound. This compound has two parts divided into a living quarters and an open ground with Vegetable growing garden in it. The lay out shows that seemingly it has got all the possible civic amenities including sport and leisure set ups. A large flat roof single storey building is the accommodation area presumably fully air conditioned. The large open area within compound is allocated for play ground and for growing of vegetables. Vegetable being grown in its green beds are very much visible.
· There are yet other two walled compound built with green orchards in them in the north west of aero-drum. These can be seen connected to Aero-drum by well beaten tracks. Possibly there are tube wells for water and to grow vegetables or fresh fruits etc.
· Numbers of service vehicles are also visible on the tarmac and in the airport services area in between Aero -drum and Living compound.
Bandari is situated some 5-7 kilometer in the west from Basima town which is located on the Kalat-Surab-Basima- Panjgur Road. Road from Kharan also links up this road in between Surab and Basima. But there is no link to Bandari from Basima as a high mountain range running north- south falls in between, which isolates Bandari from Basima. Bandari is connected by a long road coming off from Kharan-Basima road up in the north. Bandari link road is an A Class road.
To have a glimps of Bandari air port, aerial photographs with above said details are available. Please link: http://www.adab-arz.co.uk/?p=525
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Mr.A Khokar
You are right.
Pakistan is finally doing some tough talking.
But Drone attacks haven’t stopped. Maybe it is a political gimmick .
One thing, i am not able to understand is: Why is Pakistan NOT USING its air power against the terrorists in places like FATA/WAZIRISTAN/SWAT???
You guys have F-16s,JK-Thunder’s- FAR SUPERIOR to drones…….why not use them against terrorists??
Moreover, Pakistan is asking for DRONE TECH from US…..why??
is drones needed when you have FAR BETTER aircrafts???
Regards.
By the way, how was your weekend??
It’s a classic instance of the Pakistani establishment to huff and puff its chest and show belligerence every now and then. But invariably, their flexible spine (bane of the country) gives way when confronted with a superior might or the lure of the lucre. This time also Qureshi’s behaviour is no different as the facts on the ground speak otherwise. Mr. Bokhari speaks of “aero-drum’ from where drones are taking off in Balochistan. Maybe just to mitigate their losses in the ranks of their erstwhile ally the Taliban, the Pakistani establishment could start announcing the departures of these drones by beating their own ‘drums’ over wireless or radio- something similar to normal practice of announcing the arrival and departure of aircrafts at ‘aero-drums’. This will enable the Taliban to shift position from their current location saving their skins and at the same time such innocuous announcements may not ruffle the U.S feathers.
Incredible Indian,
Pakistan has got much more than F-16 or JK-Thunders but that is being kept ready for the real invaders; may these be comming from our Eastern or western borders.
Where as it is proved that Drone is the low cost substitute to do some more superior jobs; especially to take out the individual target; (especially the traitors) which is sent up in chase on the intelligence information and to delivers the ammo; the smart bombs by means of their precision target homing devices.
These can even be used against enemy isolated advances or raiding groups which may be sent to disrupt the Pakistani supply lines or softening up or depleting the local defences. These drones will certainly be helpful in picking up these would be intruders right in their dens.
Smaller Drones are also best form of visual ground surveillances or getting the first hand intelligence required by the forward posts local commanders.
Even our Uncle Sam is of the opinion to use these drones. They claim that they are using it successfully.
Muna Bhai or Premji,
Didn’t you get it that Pakistanis are the notch above the rest; they always keep the key— to turn— in their own hands. Pakistan may not be having enough money but has got the skills; to deal with all the scenarios. Our services are guaranteed so we get duly paid also.
Pakistan is passing through very difficult and desperate situations
I wish Pakistan; all the best.
So better: [Nann Chairr malangaan noun.]
Bandari Airport Aerial photographs;
New interactive Map of ‘Virtual Glob Trotting.com’ added
Link Here; http://www.adab-arz.co.uk/?p=525
For your info please.
Khokar Sahab,
I am not Munna Bhai, believe me. I don’t wear mask or hide myself to express my opinions. I say what I want to say, whether anyone likes it or not.
Premji,
I knew it that this may not be Premji but then It was givivng out some reflections of premji with in the text. More so we were some what trying the pen-name business last time. I thought Probably Premji has started calling himself: Munna Bhai.
After all Munna Bhai is some sort of pseudonym for a person having the exceptional traits of bold endeavours. Any how thanks for your call.
[Mohabtoun main Sada say laga hey ik dharka sa.
Naan janey koun kahaan rasta badal jaey ?]
Mr A Khokar
Thanks for your kind reply.
A typical A Khokar reply where we get the answer and also get ample dose of Pakistani Bravado.
Regards and thanks once again.
Incredible Indian,
There is report that these are Israeli manufactured drones operating over Iraq and Afghanistan. I think Pakistan must start manufacturing the same at her priority.
Haaretz; Tel Aviv: 13 march 2009. Report says;
Israeli-manufactured unmanned aerial vehicles have been operating in the skies of Iraq and Afghanistan in the service of the United States-led coalition for the last three years.
According to reports in foreign media, the unpiloted aircrafts are products of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Over Iraq, the U.S. Army has been operating Hunter model UAVs that were manufactured in IAI’s Mississippi-based subsidiary Stark Aerospace. The top contractor for the project is the American defense company Northrop Grumman.
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Reports say the aircraft have been deployed in various missions with considerable success.
Within the last year, the Canadian air force has also operated Israeli-made Heron UAVs over Afghanistan to assist Canada’s ground forces in combat against the Taliban.
It is not known whether any Israeli UAVs in Iraq and Afghanistan were shot down, yet no reports of such incidents have been received.
Though the UAVs were manufactured in Israel, there are no identifying marks on the aircraft to indicate the country of origin.
Dear A Khokar
Thanks for the illuminating information.
But i guess Pakistan needs to focus more on internal stability.
A stable Pakistan is in India’s national interest.
and i guess you guys have enough resources already in the armed forces.
What i fear most is NOT a your army BUT your religious fanatics considering the fact that India has 150 million muslim population and many of them poor.
May God protect south asia from chaos.
Regards
“”Fire is the neighbour’s house might spill over in MY HOUSE”–Aftab S.Alam.
A statement i agree with.
Peace
interesting read! I am surprised to read comment #11 by incredible indian. He agrees and disagrees at the same time. Funny guy!!
arif boy
Elaborate plz.
Lets see how i agreed and disagreed.
Khokar,
The real enemies who might come from western and eastern sides of Pakistan to attack Pakistan. Great dream. Uncle your country is being harmed by the Taliban guys and you are still focused on India attacking you? By the time you realize this fact I think it will be very late for you to do anything to remove these talibani militants from Pakistan and your daughters and wives and mothers will have lost their freedom and right to live.
Better use your air power now against Taliban and get it ready again for protecting your eastern and western borders. Hope you understand this point.
Adi,
Pakistan is a nation in building. Any nation being built on the bases of Ideology takes very long to establish and settles. So we are here not in a hurry at all.
This is nation which has the motto; Liya Jaey gaa kaam tujh sey duniya ki Immamat ka. So let them take their time. Taliban or extremist all they may look ferocious and like a jumbled up puzzle of a jigsaw but they will fit in their obviously; they will be cut and trimmed to the size; their rough edges smoothed out and refined… humbled. This is how the nations are evolved and moulded to their perfection while in their makings.
So No worries.
Any how they ought to remain vigilant and at a look out that their eggs kept there to hatch are not nicked by the cunning foxes and savage hyenas.
regards
My Dear A Khokar says
“”"”Taliban or extremist all they may look ferocious and like a jumbled up puzzle of a jigsaw but they will fit in their obviously; they will be cut and trimmed to the size; their rough edges smoothed out and refined… humbled.”"”"
i just hope what u say becomes a reality.
Peace.
That is the process that how the extremist has tocome around to avail a settled life.
Presently Taliban or other extremist groups In FATA and Afghanistan; when you listen to their argument; they say you raised us as Jihadist then and made us fight against Russian; the foreign forces who had invaded our home land and occupied. We fought it out and freed our home land from them.
Afghanistan is again occupied by the foreign force; this time by US and NATO forces; from where the same people who once fought for a noble cause to get their country freed (and got it); have now become overnight Terrorist … and what and what not; where as their cause remains the same —- which is to get their country freed from foriegn occupation? They are likely to fight every one; who is abetting the occupying US-NATO forces.
Who is legitimate or wrong here; and which side has to put their senses in order; Taliban or US lead NATO forces?
Your contributions please….