Former Ghazni Airfield

Military base closure and handover. The airfield was an integral part of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ghazni. As part of the complete withdrawal of U.S. and Coalition forces from Afghanistan, the base and its airfield were officially transferred to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). The base was subsequently overrun and captured by the Taliban in August 2021 during their nationwide offensive.

Following the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021, the entire former FOB Ghazni, including the airfield, fell under the control of the Taliban. It is now controlled by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense. The site is likely used as a garrison for their security forces. The airfield itself is not believed to be in regular operational use and receives no civilian or commercial air traffic. Its infrastructure may be in a state of disrepair due to lack of maintenance. It is important to distinguish this former military strip from the newer, primary Ghazni Airport (ICAO: OAGN, IATA: GZI), which is located several kilometers to the east and was built to handle civilian traffic.

The airfield, identified by the non-standard ICAO code AF-0016, was the vital airstrip for Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ghazni. During the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), it served as a critical strategic and logistical hub for Coalition forces, particularly U.S. troops and the Polish Military Contingent operating as part of Task Force White Eagle. The airfield handled a high volume of military air traffic, including:
- **Tactical Airlift:** Regular flights by C-130 Hercules and other transport aircraft to resupply the base with troops, equipment, ammunition, and provisions.
- **Rotary-Wing Operations:** Extensive use by helicopters such as UH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47 Chinooks, and AH-64 Apaches for personnel transport, medical evacuations (MEDEVAC), and providing close air support to ground troops in the volatile Ghazni Province.
- **Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR):** Launch and recovery of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones for surveillance missions.
Its existence was crucial for sustaining a large military presence and conducting operations in one of Afghanistan's most contested regions.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening this specific airfield for either international military or civilian purposes. Its function has been entirely superseded by the larger, more modern Ghazni Airport (OAGN). The future of the AF-0016 site is tied to the domestic security and military requirements of the current Afghan government, which may use it intermittently for its own purposes, but a full reopening to its former operational capacity is highly unlikely.