Helicopter Hijacking
By Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
Westridge, Rawalpindi
The hijacking of three American helicopters by the Taliban in FATA could be surprising for many and the Americans but not so for the few who would have been surprised had such an incident not taken place. It is an open secret that lots of sealed and locked containers carry American logistics and military hardware goods to Afghanistan through Pakistan. These containers are not allowed to be examined by any customs for fear of revealing their contents and are said to be equipped with the GPS (Global Positioning System) to monitor their movement minutely. They are also provided with the security personnel.
Some not so well informed ask as to what would the Taliban do with the hijacked helicopters. As any one could guess, they could sell them to a foreign country in need of acquiring higher aero-technology or dismantle them like stolen cars and sell their parts. However, not many may think that they could fly them against the NATO forces for aerial operations unless they know of the versatility of the Pathans.
During the October 2005 earthquake many Chinook helicopters came to Pakistan and one must admit very gratefully that they did a tremendous relief job. They used to arrive at Chaklala airport in huge USAF transport aircraft and ferried by large trailers to Qasim airfield at Dhamial, Rawalpindi by the private transporters mostly Pathans. One night the driver of one such trailer lost his way between Chaklala and Dhamial and was roaming all over the city. Finally – thanks to modern technology – he got in touch with his boss over his mobile phone and asked for directions. Having corrected his bearings and feeling confident to make to the destination, he enquired from the boss , “Iss ke par jodney hain ya aise hi dena hai?”. (Are the rotor blades to be assembled and fixed or are they to be delivered as they are”? ) Who says that the installing of the rotor blades of a Chinook was a highly technical affair requiring precise angles of fixation with proper torque and balancing?
Moral of the story: If an ordinary trailer driver can install the rotor blades of a Chinook, can’t a little more technical Taliban fly it too?
