Context

India has formally ended its two-decade-long military presence at the Ayni Airbase (also known as the Farkhor–Ayni complex) in Tajikistan, marking a significant shift in India’s strategic outreach in Central Asia. The withdrawal reflects evolving regional geopolitics, logistical limitations, and India’s new security focus on the Indo-Pacific region.

Background: Ayni Airbase – India’s First Overseas Military Footprint

• Location: 15 km west of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
• Construction History: Originally built during the Soviet era in the 1970s.
• India’s Involvement:

• • India, through the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), renovated and modernised the base between 2002 and 2010.
  • It developed a 3,200-metre-long runway, capable of handling modern fighter jets like the Su-30MKI and MiG-29.
  • The airbase was part of India’s broader strategy to maintain strategic depth in Central Asia, particularly during the Afghan conflict.

Strategic Importance of Ayni Airbase

1. Proximity to Afghanistan:

It allowed India to monitor developments in Afghanistan, especially during the U.S.-led war and after the rise of Taliban influence.

2. Counterbalance to Pakistan and China:

The base provided India with a strategic vantage point against Pakistan’s western flank and China’s increasing influence in the region.

3. Energy and Connectivity Goals:

It was integral to India’s ambitions under the Connect Central Asia Policy (2012) and its vision for access to energy corridors.

4. First Overseas Base:

Symbolically, Ayni represented India’s entry into global power projection beyond South Asia.

Reasons for Withdrawal

Russia’s Strategic Concerns

• Tajikistan remains under Russia’s security umbrella through the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
• Russia was reluctant to allow India independent operational control over the airbase, considering Central Asia as its “traditional sphere of influence.”

China’s Expanding Influence

• Over the years, China has increased its military presence in Tajikistan, especially near the Wakhan Corridor, under the garb of counter-terrorism.
• Tajikistan’s growing alignment with Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) further limited India’s leverage.

Logistical and Cost Challenges

• Lack of direct access routes due to Pakistan’s airspace denial and limited cooperation with Iran made supply chains extremely expensive and operationally difficult.
• Maintaining infrastructure and manpower in a landlocked region without a direct corridor was unsustainable.

Shift in Strategic Priorities

• India is now focusing on the Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and multilateral frameworks like QUAD and I2U2.
• Defence diplomacy is now oriented toward maritime dominance and global partnerships rather than land-based Central Asian deployments.

India–Tajikistan Defence Relations: Continuing Cooperation

Despite withdrawal, bilateral ties remain robust:

• India continues to assist Tajikistan with military training, equipment, and medical aid.
• Joint military exercises like “Exercise Dustlik” (fictional name; actual Indo-Tajik training interactions occur under the framework of SCO defence cooperation).
• Counterterrorism cooperation continues under Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) mechanisms.

Geopolitical Implications

Major Overseas Military Bases of India (Current & Planned)

Conclusion

• The closure of India’s military presence at the Ayni Airbase symbolizes a strategic realignment in India’s foreign and defence policy.
• While it marks the end of a historic chapter in India’s engagement with Central Asia, it also underscores New Delhi’s shift toward a maritime-centric strategy, focusing on the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s global assertiveness.