Why in news?
India has quietly ended its two‑decade presence at the Ayni airbase near Dushanbe, Tajikistan, after a bilateral agreement lapsed. The move marks the conclusion of India’s only overseas military deployment in Central Asia.
Background
Tajikistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. It shares borders with Kyrgyzstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, China to the east and Afghanistan to the south. The country is governed by a presidential republic, with executive power vested in the president and legislative functions carried out by a bicameral parliament. Tajikistan joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2001.
Geographic features
- Mountainous terrain: About 93 percent of Tajikistan is mountainous. The Alay Mountains dominate the north and the Pamirs rise in the southeast.
- Highest peak: Qullai Ismoil Somoni (formerly Communism Peak) reaches 7,495 metres, making it the highest point in the country.
- Rivers: Major rivers include the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, which originate in the Pamirs and feed the Aral Sea basin.
- Climate: The climate varies from continental and hot summers in valleys to semiarid plateaus and polar conditions at high elevations.
- Lakes: Notable lakes include Lake Karakul and Lake Iskanderkul.
- Resources: Tajikistan has deposits of petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver and gold.
- Capital: The capital city and largest urban centre is Dushanbe.
The Ayni airbase
The Ayni (or Farkhor) airbase was built during the Soviet era but fell into disrepair after the Soviet Union collapsed. In the early 2000s India invested close to US$100 million to refurbish the runway, construct aircraft shelters, fuel depots and an air‑traffic control tower. India stationed up to 200 military personnel and temporarily deployed Su‑30MKI jets at the base. The presence was originally intended to support the Northern Alliance during the Afghan civil war and later served as a launch point for humanitarian missions and evacuations, including the evacuation of Indian nationals from Afghanistan in 2021. With the bilateral agreement expiring and not renewed, India withdrew its troops and equipment by 2022.
Why it matters
India’s withdrawal underscores the dynamic nature of its foreign policy in Central Asia. Understanding Tajikistan’s geography and political structure helps contextualise regional security relationships, particularly regarding Afghanistan and the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Source: Hindustan Times