[2] Bearing a great resemblance to typical Afghan architecture of the time, its original purpose was a safe refueling stop for long-range piston engined aircraft traveling between Europe and Southeast Asia.

[17] The airport was mostly used at this time for military and humanitarian purposes, hosting regular flights of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to and from Kabul, Jalalabad, Herat, and Peshawar.

[citation needed] The airport came into the public eye during the tense drama that was played out when Pakistani terrorists belonging to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, who hijacked and landed Indian Airlines Flight 814 on the airfield in December 1999.

Major battles between the Taliban and local anti-Taliban forces had been fought at the airport just days earlier, and when coalition troops arrived there were abandoned weapons – including a BM-21 still loaded with rockets – scattered around the terminal.

The accommodation area began to enlarge down along the airfield to where the current military base is located, and by April the coalition presence had expanded to several thousand personnel.

[18] After June 2009 under Operation Herrick they were replaced by a squadron of Panavia Tornado GR4 aircraft, carrying out close air support and recce missions.

The Afghan government has been slow in rebuilding the facility, the vast majority of it has been reclaimed from years of neglect and damage by Soviet and Taliban soldiers.

With the closure of Camp Julien in Kabul in November 2005, most of the Canadian Forces personnel in Afghanistan were transferred to Kandahar province.

The mission of TFA was to improve the security situation in the southern areas, and play a key role in the transition from the U.S.-led multinational coalition to NATO leadership.

NATO operated a major trauma hospital at the base, treating battle casualties, including Afghan civilians and enemy forces.

[24] In July 2007, the post of Commander, Kandahar Airfield (COMKAF) was created as a NATO appointment which had been held by an officer of the Royal Air Force of OF-6 rank.

Commander, Kandahar Airfield has been held by: During late September 2007 a number of French Dassault Mirage F1 and F2000s relocated there from Dushanbe Airport, Tajikistan.

Forces, the ESC was chosen for the Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration (RSOI) mission, as well as, coordinating sustainment distribution with joint, strategic and coalition stakeholders.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers began expansion work with the addition of new facilities for the Afghan Air Force.