Kandahar International Airport was originally built in the early 1960s by the United States for a cost of about 15 million U.S. dollars.
The airfield itself was completed in 1962 by an American company known as Morrison–Knudsen, which was contracted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Bearing a great resemblance to typical U.S. architecture of the time, its original purpose was a safe and modern refueling stop for long-range piston engined aircraft traveling between Europe and Southeast Asia.
However, with the advent of jet aircraft, such stops were no longer necessary, and the airport saw little use.

Some speculate that since the airport was designed as a military base, it is likely that the United States intended to use it in case there was a show-down of war between the United States and the former USSR.
While the Americans were busy building the Kandahar Airport, the Soviets were busy in the north, building the Kabul Airport.
Kandahar International Airport was originally built in the early 1960s by the United States for a cost of about 15 million U.S. dollars. The airfield itself was completed in 1962 by an American company known as Morrison–Knudsen, which was contracted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Bearing a great resemblance to typical U.S. architecture of the time, its original purpose was a safe and modern refueling stop for long-range piston engined aircraft traveling between Europe and Southeast Asia. However, with the advent of jet aircraft, such stops were no longer necessary, and the airport saw little use.
Some speculate that since the airport was designed as a military base, it is likely that the United States intended to use it in case there was a show-down of war between the United States and the former USSR. While the Americans were busy building the Kandahar Airport, the Soviets were busy in the north, building the Kabul Airport.
Kandahar International Airport