Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Who controls the Shamsi airfield?

A top Pakistani air force official recently stated that the Shamsi air base, in Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province, is controlled by the United Arab Emirates, of all people. It would make a nifty base from which to fly ops against the FATA, maybe Iran, perhaps in the future against the Taliban, and, who knows, perhaps ...

A top Pakistani air force official recently stated that the Shamsi air base, in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province, is controlled by the United Arab Emirates, of all people.

A top Pakistani air force official recently stated that the Shamsi air base, in Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province, is controlled by the United Arab Emirates, of all people.

It would make a nifty base from which to fly ops against the FATA, maybe Iran, perhaps in the future against the Taliban, and, who knows, perhaps places like Abbotabad. Especially with stealthy drones.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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