Role of airpower for counterinsurgency in Afghanistan and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas)
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Authors
Ahmad, Irfan.
Subjects
Advisors
Davis, Zachary
Khan, Feroz H.
Date of Issue
2009-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis examines the role of airpower in Counterinsurgency (COIN) in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The direct use of airpower is kinetic application to physically destroy the insurgents; indirect use involves support roles such as transportation, logistics, surveillance and reconnaissance. The former requires near-perfect intelligence and precision strikes to minimize unintended damage; the latter complements information warfare and supports ground mobility. This thesis focuses on how the direct application of airpower affects COIN in Afghanistan and Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Excessive use of sophisticated U.S. airpower and predator strikes has produced undesirable collateral damage, forcing exodus into FATA and complicating the regional situation. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) operates under operational, technological and cultural constraints. The use of drones in FATA by U.S. drones, conducted without adequate coordination, planning and political sensitivity, added to the trust deficit between crucial allies, making the use of airpower controversial and counterproductive. This thesis concludes that air power produced tactical gains but was strategically costly; it destroyed enemies, but also lost friends in the process.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xiv. 115 p. : col. ill. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.