The Pakistan Air Force has confirmed that it is considering building a new air base in Balochistan province, while the Deputy Commissioner of Naseerabad District has told the BBC that the Air Force is considering acquiring land in this regard. The administration was contacted for this, after which they have been inspected the land in Nutal area of ​​Naseerabad.

This news came at a time when, according to the news agency AFP, a Pentagon official, David F. Halway, said that Pakistan has given permission to use its air and land borders to support its forces in Afghanistan. Is.

According to the AFP news agency, US Assistant Secretary for Indo-Pacific Affairs David F. Halvey told the US Senate Armed Services Committee last week that the US will continue to work with Pakistan as it helps Pakistan restore peace in Afghanistan. It is a very important role.

After these news came out, it has been claimed in the local media that the air base being built in Naseerabad district is actually being built at the request of American forces and that this air base will be used by the US. However, the spokesman of the Pakistan Air Force and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have denied this and said that no such proposal is under consideration.

Speaking to the BBC, Air Force spokesman said that the proposal to build a new air base in Balochistan is a routine matter and no final decision has been taken in this regard at present. According to the spokesperson, four sites are under consideration for this air base, but the final decision is yet to be made

On the other hand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has denied these reports and said that there are neither American forces nor any air base in Pakistan and no such proposal is under consideration. 'All speculations made in this regard are baseless and irresponsible and should be avoided. (Pakistan's) air and ground cooperation (with the US) has been ongoing since 2001.

According to AFP, the US official, in response to a question, further said that 'Pakistan has played a very important role in Afghanistan. Pakistan has provided assistance in the peace restoration project in Afghanistan and Pakistan has also provided assistance to the US in providing support to its forces in Afghanistan by using air service.

Nutal is located at a distance of 25 km from Dera Murad Jamali, headquarters of Naseerabad district of Balochistan. Nutal is a flat plain and most of it is not fertile.

Since the deterioration of the situation in Balochistan, some areas of Naseerabad district have been affected by insurgency.

The spokesperson of Pakistan Air Force said that these reports in the media are baseless and just rumors that this airbase is being built for or will be handed over to America.

According to the spokesman,if the work on the airbase starts, it will not be built overnight, but after the final decision and approval, it will take eight to ten years to complete.

The Naseerabad Deputy Commissioner told the BBC that the proposal was not for a new air base but for an operational site.

He said that according to his knowledge, Pakistan Air Force has to build a colony, an operational site or a construction on this land, but it will not be a big air base.

"We have welcomed the Pakistan Air Force to come because it will bring development and prosperity to the region," he said.

It should be noted that this site was visited by Pakistan Air Force officials earlier this month. 'Pakistani army will not hand over any air base to America'. Speaking to the BBC, Lt. General Retired Amjad Shoaib says that no air base will be given to America by the army.

According to him, at present there is no such facility in Naseerabad and this air base is also important from the point of view of CPEC. According to him, if there is any conspiracy against CPEC, then it will be possible to eliminate any negative activity from this airbase.

According to Amjad Shoaib, this airbase will not be too big because its purpose will be to maintain peace in the southern part. According to him, if needed, the US can be given access through the road to Chaman and it is already using this road.

According to him, if American soldiers need supplies, they will be able to take them from Karachi Airport. However, according to him, after the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, this need has decreased.

Talking about Naseerabad Air Base, General Amjad Shaib said that our response time is very high to eradicate any terrorism at this time. We have to respond from Quetta now. Jacobabad airbase is not even that close.' According to him, the Jacobabad Airbase is a bit far away but it has its own distinct importance in the context of the Indian border.

Senior journalist Kamran Yusuf, who reports on defense issues associated with the English newspaper Express Tribune, told the BBC that the United States will maintain its presence in the region in one form or another and this is the wish of the Pakistani military authorities.

According to Kamran Yusuf, the military leadership understands that when the American presence remains in the region, Pakistan will also have an advantage because America will continue to feel the need for Pakistan. According to him, historically, Pakistan has been providing this kind of assistance to America. However, according to him, nothing is immediately disclosed about such agreements to avoid public opposition.

According to him, there is a secret possibility that the two countries may sign an agreement to continue this kind of cooperation.

According to him, after 9-11, Pervez Musharraf asked to remain neutral in the meeting of Corps Commanders, but later it came to know that Shamsi Air Base had already been handed over to the US.

It should be remembered that Shahid Aziz, who was a corps commander with Pervez Musharraf, revealed in his book 'Yeh Qamishi Kaan Tak' that Pervez Musharraf as the Army Chief had said in a meeting of Corps Commanders that Pakistan would remain neutral in the case of America but The commanders also learned later that the Shamsi Air Base had already been handed over to the US.

According to Kamran Yusuf, when Ayub Khan offered Peshawar air base to America against the Soviet Union in the past, the situation was slightly different at that time, but now Pakistan cannot ignore the element of China before such cooperation, and of course Pakistanis. The authorities must have taken China into confidence in this regard.

Jacobabad is a border district of Sindh bordering Balochistan and Jafarabad district of Balochistan adjacent to Naseerabad borders Jacobabad in the south-east. Shahbaz Air Base is a major air base of Pakistan Air Force in Jacobabad. Nutal Sindh is located approximately 70 km from Jacobabad.

After the US invasion of Afghanistan, the Jacobabad airbase has been used by the US Air Force for military operations against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Like Jacobabad, Afghanistan is also north of Nutal. Areas of Afghanistan bordering Pakistan in the south or southwest of Jacobabad and Nutal or adjoining areas are also the most affected by the insurgency.

What other airports are there near Nutal?

While Jacobabad air base is located very close to Nutal, there is also an airport in Sibi district near Nutal. Although this airport built during the British period is not very big and modern, it is used by small planes except C130 planes.

Which air bases in Balochistan have been used by the United States?

Balochistan has six districts along the border with Afghanistan, including Zhob, Qila Saifullah, Pashin, Qila Abdullah, Nushki and Chagai. These districts were part of British Balochistan during the British era, where the British had built many small airstrips to prevent any possible advance by Nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union.

However, after the establishment of Pakistan, airports were constructed in Dalbandin area of ​​Zhob and Chagai district. No news has come out regarding the US use of any airport in these areas for attacks in Afghanistan, but Shamsi Air Base in Kharan district, which is adjacent to Chagai district, was said to have been used by the US. However, this air base was evacuated by the US after the US attack on the Salala check post.

Due to the lack of publicity of this new Air Force project in Nutal in the local newspapers of Balochistan, there has not been much reaction from the political parties in this regard, however, the nationalist party Balochistan National Movement opposed this project.

In a statement issued by the head of the party, Khalil Baloch, it has been described as a major military project in Balochistan, saying that the state and its military establishment have extended their occupation in Balochistan and turned the Baloch homeland into a full-fledged military cantonment. are rapidly implementing the policy of