Congress Criticizes India's Exit from Tajikistan's Ayni Airbase
The Congress party has described India's decision to wrap up operations at the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan as a setback for strategic diplomacy. The base, India's only overseas military facility, was shut down after the bilateral agreement with Tajikistan ended. India had expanded infrastructure at Ayni and used it for strategic influence in Central Asia and for evacuating nationals from Afghanistan.
The Congress party has criticized India's decision to conclude its operations at the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan, calling it a setback for the country's strategic diplomacy. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that India established the Ayni air force base in the early 2000s and expanded its infrastructure, with ambitious plans for further development due to its strategic location. However, four years ago, India was informed it must gradually withdraw, and the base has now been shut down. The agreement between India and Tajikistan for the development and joint operation of the airbase ended about four years ago, and India pulled out its personnel and military equipment in 2022. The Ayni airbase, located about 10 km from Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe, was India's only overseas military facility. India's presence at Ayni was part of its efforts to expand strategic influence in Central Asia, initially to support the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. The Indian military had temporarily deployed Su-30MKI fighter jets and military helicopters at Ayni. In 2021, the base was used to evacuate Indian nationals and officials from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. The end of the agreement and the withdrawal have raised questions about India's future strategic footprint in the region.
