India Ends Military Presence at Strategic Ayni Airbase in Tajikistan

The Indian military has concluded its presence at the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan, following the lapse of a bilateral agreement with the Tajik government.

Background

• Location: Ayni airbase is situated around 10 km west of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
• Agreement Timeline:
  • India and Tajikistan had a bilateral agreement for the development and joint operation of the airbase.
  • The agreement ended about four years ago and was not renewed.
• Investment & Deployment:
  • India reportedly spent close to $100 million over two decades to develop and upgrade the Soviet-era airbase.
  • Military Deployment:
    • Su-30MKI jets were temporarily stationed post-2014.
    • Up to 200 Indian personnel (army and air force) were deployed at times.
    • Personnel and equipment were completely withdrawn by 2022.

Strategic Role of Ayni Airbase

• The airbase was used to support the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan during India’s early deployments.
• In August 2021, it facilitated the evacuation of Indian nationals and officials from Afghanistan after the Taliban took control.

Significance

• Marks the end of India’s two-decade operational role at a strategic location in Central Asia.
• Reflects changes in regional security dynamics and evolving India-Tajik bilateral arrangements.
• The investment in Ayni underlines India’s long-term strategic interests in Afghanistan and the wider Central Asian region.

Source: HT