Why in news?
India has wound up its operations at the Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan after a two‑decade presence. The withdrawal followed the expiry of the bilateral agreement governing India’s use of the base and was completed in 2022.
Background
The Ayni Air Base, also known as the Gissar Military Aerodrome, lies just west of Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe. It was a neglected Soviet‑era facility when India and Tajikistan struck an agreement in the early 2000s to modernise it. India invested around US $100 million to extend the runway to 3,200 metres, build refuelling and repair facilities and construct hangars. At times, India stationed about 200 personnel from the Army and Air Force at the base and temporarily deployed Su‑30MKI fighter jets and helicopters.
Why the base mattered
- Strategic location: Ayni sits roughly 20 kilometres from Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip bordering Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir. From this position Indian aircraft could monitor developments in Afghanistan and, in theory, reach parts of Pakistan.
- Support for Afghanistan: Before 2001 the base helped India maintain contact with anti‑Taliban forces. It later served as a staging post to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate Indian nationals during the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
- Central Asian presence: Ayni was India’s first overseas military base and allowed the country to project influence in a region traditionally dominated by Russia and increasingly courted by China.
Reasons for withdrawal
- End of agreement: The bilateral pact authorising India’s presence expired in 2022 and Tajik authorities did not renew it. Media reports suggest that Moscow and Beijing were uncomfortable with a long‑term Indian military presence in Central Asia.
- Resource focus: India has recently prioritised maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, which may have reduced the strategic rationale for maintaining a small air base thousands of kilometres away.
Impact
- Reduced footprint: India’s departure narrows its military footprint in Central Asia, potentially leaving the field open for Russia and China to expand their influence.
- Symbolic shift: The decision underscores how India now pursues security partnerships that are less likely to provoke regional sensitivities while strengthening ties with partners like France, the United States and Japan.
Source: Moneycontrol