Full mission preview at https://youtu.be/hy6Tu6uXNWo || 2 player co-op or single player best played in M-2000 but also playable in Mig29, F18, and F16. A rare air-to-air engagement over the skies of Afghanistan in early 2014.

By 2013, much of Afghanistan's critical infrastructure was being built and maintained by Indian contractors - including highways, electricity, and water - a deliberate attempt to economically encircle its arch rival Pakistan. Some of these companies were fronts for India's Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) - its foreign intelligence agency. It was not uncommon for Taliban attacks on these companies, rumoured to be directed by the ISI.
Based at Camp Shorabak - the Afghan camp next to Bastion - two Indian pilots were deployed to train Afghan pilots as part of India's arms deal with Kabul. Deployed with a pair of M-2000s, their real purpose was to provide ISTAR capability and deterrence against Taliban attacks against Indian citizens.

## Useful Info ##
This is best played as 2-player co-op, but can also be played as single player.

There will be a number of radio cues in this mission. It's advised that you turn up your helmet sounds so you can hear the comms clearly.

To complete this mission, you will need to be able to do the following:
CCIP bombing
Unaided navigation (including manual inputting of steer points in-flight)
Strafing
Visual target acqusition - through TPOD or HMD
A2A radar use
A2A combat
Countemeasures
Fuel management

For realism purposes, this mission is best played with M-2000. It is also playable with [partially real] Mig-29, and fictional F-18 and F-16 flights for those who don't have those modules

## Background and Introduction ##
The full details of this mission were never fully detailed, but can be pieced together by researching India's 2014 interventions in Afghanistan, at a time when India was attempting to fill the void that coalition troops were leaving with their departure. Throughout 2013-14, India built a military relationship with Afghanistan, smuggling in military hardware via Russia.

Since the US-led invasion, much of Afghanistan's critical infrastructure was built and maintained by Indian construction companies, who had been funded by the Indian government  to establish an economic and military ally north of their Pakistan rivals (much to Pakistan's annoyance).

Some of these construction companies were likely "fronts" for India's Research & Analysis Wing - its foreign ingelligence agency. By 2013, R&AW had established listening posts close to the Pak/Afg border, and controlled much of the major utilities in the area.

There were multiple Taliban attacks over the years on Indian contractors, something that blue forces turned a blind eye to, likely to maintain relations with Pakistan who allowed much of the US logistics to flow in and out of its borders. These Taliban attacks were almost exclusively made against Indian companies operating in Southwest Afghanistan, and were likely funded and equipped by Pakistan's ISI.

In response, India arranged for two of its officers to do an exchange tour with the Afghan Air Force, basing themselves at Camp Shorabak. Under the guise of training Afghan pilots, they established and maintained two Indian training aircraft at Camp Shorabak - a pair of M-2000s. The real reason for their presence, however, was to deter any esclation of attacks against Indian interests in the region, and to demonstrate to Pakistan it would defend its interests if they continued to back Taliban attacks against its citizens.

## Your Mission ##
As one of a small detachment of Indian officers at Camp Shorabak, you've received word from R&AW that a major listening post - disguised as a construction site on Route 606 in Dishu Province - has come under attack and has been overrun by Taliban insurgents, likely fed intelligence from Pakistan's  ISI. Route 606 is a strategic thorn in the side to Paksitan, who see it as moving trade away from its borders and via Iran instead.

Armed contractors have fought back, and now the remaining personnel are fleeing the area north along Route 606. Within one of the vehicles is former Wing Commander Chanda Sidhu (Callsign POSTAL), an experienced paramilitary operative within India's R&AW. A former intelligence officer in the Indian Air Force, she's equipped  with a satellite phone and hand-held radio. Thankfully, all the equipment she needs to be able to raise you once you're airborne.

You're to scramble and fly to SP1. Wait to hear from POSTAL. Locate and protect the Indian convoy heading north on 606.

What few coalition forces are left won't even know of your existence. Afghans don't have any air assets in the region to support you. You're a thousand miles from India. You'll be on your own for this one.

## Mission Success ##
Successful completion of this mission is contingent on the Indian construction convoy reaching Delaram safely.

## ROE ##
If Taliban forces pose a hostile threat to your convoy, you are authorsied to use force.

All other tracks are to be treated as friend unless they represent a real and immediate threat. Although coalition air operations are fewer than they were, they still operative extensively in Southwest Afghanistan.

## Note ##
This mission complies with the user files guidelines.